This week’s Monday Muse is a story about one of the most famous paintings in the history of the United States; the iconic Washington Crossing the Delaware. One of the more interesting aspects about this piece was that it was created by a German artist, Emanuael Leutze, and it was painted almost 75 years after the Revolutionary War.
As the famous story goes, George Washington, in a bold and brilliant move on Christmas night in 1776, crossed the Delaware River at night with the Colonial army for a surprise attack against German troops who had been hired by the British. This provided a much needed victory and a boost of morale for the struggling Colonial army.
Leutze painted a variety of different people in the boat with Washington suggesting the diversity of the people fighting for the Colonials. An interesting note is that the flag depicted in the painting is inaccurate and was not used until 1777. There are a few other interesting aspects of the painting in relationship to historical accuracy. As we know from history, the crossing was in the middle of the night, but the artist chose to depict the scene at daybreak. Also, many historians feel that the short-walled rowboat that was used in the crossing would have been far too unsafe for anyone to stand while crossing. Many people feel that the artist painted Washington standing because it showcased heroism and bravery.
Regardless of a few minor potential historical inaccuracies, this remains one of the most significant paintings created to depict the founding of the United States.