Signing of the Peace Protocol Between Spain and the United States, August 12, 1898

This painting by Théobald Chartran was completed in 1899 and records the signing of the Peace Protocol between Spain and the United States on August 12, 1898, which officially ended the Spanish-American War. Standing at the far left, looking over the signing, is President William McKinley. Seated from left to right are Secretary of State William R. Day and, signing, French Ambassador to the United States Jules Cambon, who represented and acted on Spain's behalf. Standing behind the two men are, from left to right, First Assistant Secretary of State John Bassett Moore, Second Assistant Secretary Alvey A. Adee, Third Assistant Secretary Thomas W. Cridler, and First Secretary of the French Embassy Eugène Thiébaut. Photographs taken of the event show that more men were present in the room than depicted in the painting. The room where the signing took place was the Cabinet Room at the time and overlooks the South Lawn of the White House with the South Portico columns visible through the windows. Today the finished painting hangs in the Treaty Room of the White House. A preliminary sketch of the painting is also in the White House Collection. Chartran was a French painter and illustrator known for historical works.