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WASHINGTON CROSSING THE DELAWARE, Oil on Canvas Painting, after Emanuel Leutze

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:2,800.00 USD Estimated At:4,000.00 - 5,000.00 USD
WASHINGTON CROSSING THE DELAWARE, Oil on Canvas Painting, after Emanuel Leutze
Washington Related
 
Post 1851, WASHINGTON CROSSING THE DELAWARE, 19th century Oil Painting on Canvas, after the 1851 Painting by artist Emanuel Leutze, Choice Very Fine.
An impressive painting that measures 25” x 30” featuring the iconic scene by Emanuel Leutze (1851). Washington Crossing the Delaware is an 1851 oil-on-canvas painting by the German-American artist Emanuel Leutze. It commemorates General George Washington's dramatic military tactic crossing of the Delaware River with the Continental Army on the night of December 25–26th, 1776, on Christmas night during the American Revolutionary War. That action was the first move in a surprise attack and historic victory against Hessian mercenary British forces at the Battle of Trenton in New Jersey on the morning of December 26th. That single decisive risky military action may well have saved the Revolutionary War for America.

The original painting of 1851 was part of the collection at the Kunsthalle in Bremen, Germany, and was destroyed in a bombing raid in 1942, during World War II. Leutze painted two more versions, one of which is now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. The other was in the West Wing reception area of the White House in Washington, D.C., but in March 2015, was put on display at the Minnesota Marine Art Museum in Winona, Minnesota. This current painting is bright and colorful with nice eye appeal as viewed. A large expertly repaired and restored tear can be seen viewing the back of this painting, yet it is barely discernible from the front and was so expertly accomplished. The canvas should be restretched when reframed. This historic Revolutionary War theme painting has a quaint, folk-art appeal, while its large size makes it a very impressive artwork for display. An iconic Patriotic work of art.
Washington Crossing the Delaware is an 1851 oil-on-canvas painting by the German-American artist Emanuel Leutze.

It commemorates General George Washington's crossing of the Delaware River with the Continental Army on the night of December 25–26, 1776, during the American Revolutionary War. That action was the first move in a surprise attack and victory against Hessian forces at the Battle of Trenton in New Jersey on the morning of December 26th, 1776.

The painting is notable for its artistic composition. General George Washington is emphasized by an unnaturally bright sky, while his face catches the upcoming sun. The colors consist of mostly dark tones, as is to be expected at dawn, but there are red highlights repeated throughout the painting. Foreshortening, perspective and the distant boats all lend depth to the painting and emphasize the boat carrying Washington.

The people in the boat represent a cross-section of the American colonies, including a man in a Scottish bonnet and a man of African descent facing backward next to each other in the front, western riflemen at the bow and stern, two farmers in broad-brimmed hats near the back (one with bandaged head), and an androgynous rower in a red shirt, possibly meant to be a woman in man's clothing. There is also a man at the back of the boat wearing what appears to be Native American garb to represent the idea that all people in the new United States of America were represented as present in the boat along with Washington on his way to victory and success.

According to the originals 1853 exhibition catalogue, the man standing next to Washington and holding the American flag is Lieutenant James Monroe, future President of the United States, and the man leaning over the side is General Nathanael Greene. Also, General Edward Hand is shown seated and holding his hat within the vessel.