WASHINGTON CROSSING THE

DELAWAREPatrick Lawrence

Background of Painting

This painting was first painted in 1851. It is an oil-on-canvas painting. Painted by Emanuel Gottlieb Leutze. It commemorates Washington’s crossing of the

Delaware River in December of 1776. The original painting was displayed in the

Kunsthalle in Bremen, Germany. During WWII a British air raid destroyed the

painting and Kunsthalle. Leutze painted a second one and put it on

display in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.

Emanuel Leutze

Born: May 24, 1816 in Schwäbisch Gmünd Württemberg, German Confederation

Died: July 18, 1868 (age 52) in Washington, DC Emanuel is most famous for his painting of

Washington Crossing the Delaware. Emanuel attended the Düsseldorf School of

painting. Emanuel trained under John Rubens Smith and Karl

Friedrich Lessing. Other known paintings by Leutze include Westward

the Course of Empire Takes Its Way, Washington rallying the troops at Monmouth, and a painting depicting the negotiation of the Alaska Purchase.

Expert Analysis

According to ushistory.org, there are lots of flaws in the painting.

Most of the flaws are found in the paintings surroundings. Some of the flaws include the time of day that painting is

set in compared to when the crossing actually took place. Some diaries from soldiers talk about all the snow and

sleet and how dark it was from the clouds, but none of that can be seen in the painting.

The sheets of ice do not match up with the ice forms found on the Delaware River.

According to sources, the river doesn’t resemble the Delaware River but the Rhine River because at the time Leutze painted this painting, he was in Germany.

Continued

Experts also question the people and the items in the boat.

One of the biggest questions raised about the painting, is the flag. According to historians the flag in the painting resembles the “Betsy Ross” model. No one has been able to determine the true date of this flag, but they are certain that this model flag was created after the crossing.

Another questioned that is raised is why is Prince Whipple, an African who served, in the painting when there is no record of him crossing with Washington.

My Analysis

Even though the painting is almost completely historically incorrect, it does appeal to the greatness of Washington and his men during the Revolution. In my opinion, I do no think that Leutze was trying to make it appeal as 100% correct but appeal to the people emotions and show the greatness of that generation.

Citations

"History." What's Wrong with This Painting? N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Apr. 2013.

"Emanuel Leutze." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 04 Mar. 2013. Web. 07 Apr. 2013.