Washington Crossing the Delaware
Original title: Washington Crossing the Delaware
kurzbeschreibung
On 25 December 1776 General George Washington crossed the Delaware River with his troops, and that moment from the American Revolutionary War is the subject of Emanuel Leutze's monumental oil painting of 1851. Painted in oil on canvas, the picture measures 378.5 by 647.7 cm.
Description
Men in a wooden rowboat struggle through icy water. Washington stands at the front in military uniform, upright, a flag in his hand. Some row, others push against floes of ice. Along the shore more soldiers and horses are on the move. Light falls from above and singles out the central figure; muted browns and greys set the tone of the colour.
Context
Leutze painted the picture in Düsseldorf, where he led a group of artists, and finished it in 1851. Exhibitions in the United States and Germany soon made it widely known. Against the backdrop of the European revolutions of 1848, Leutze linked American history with democratic ideals. The crossing is not shown with historical exactness but idealised, to bring out Washington's strength of leadership.
Impact
The monumental scale and the dynamic layout give the painting a heroic, dramatic presence. Washington's central position and the light falling from above draw the eye to the symbolic meaning. Realistic but subdued colours create a serious, dignified mood.
Technique
Oil on canvas allows a smooth surface and fine reproduction of detail. Leutze worked with the means of classical history painting: carefully considered arrangement and control of light. The large format (378.5 by 647.7 cm) demanded precise working and several studies.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)