History of the emblem of the patriotism of the painting «Washington crossing the Delaware»

History of the emblem of the patriotism of the painting «Washington crossing the Delaware»

This picture, painted in the late 1840s, he became a real discovery in American art. Dozens of artists had to draw it. At various exhibitions the painting was awarded gold medals. There was a poet who even wrote an ode to the painting. Art historian Barbara Groseclose no wonder he considers the creation of Emanuel leutze the most important emblem of American patriotism.

The painting depicts a watershed event in the war for Independence. On Christmas night, 1776, a detachment led by General George Washington crossed the icy Delaware river. In the morning a sudden attack on a detachment of Hessian mercenaries, secured Washington ‘s victory at the battle of Trenton. Loyce portrayed the future President in the boat with her head held high.

A second picture of Loyce created in the workshop in düsseldorf. The main idea of creating copies of paintings was encouraged compatriots to fight for the unification of Germany. In 1848, throughout Europe, a wave of revolutions. France established the Second Republic. In Denmark, protesters advocated a constitutional monarchy. In London Marx and Engels published the «Communist Manifesto». However, the disparate German principalities of the events of 1848 came to nothing. Picture Loyce started already when the revolution was defeated.

The first picture is after American tour was purchased by the Bremen art Museum. Canvas was killed in 1942 during the bombing of the allied forces. The second pattern went in the opposite direction. From Germany to the United States. Since the late nineteenth century she is exhibited in the Metropolitan Museum.

In 1859 moved to the New world himself Emanuel Leutze. In Washington, he was commissioned to decorate with paintings on historical themes the halls of Congress and the Senate. Another masterpiece of the painter «Empire takes a course to the West» (1861) is in the Capitol. Staying until the last day true patriot of Germany, the artist entered the history of American painting, as the Creator of Patriotic themes.

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