Emmanuel Leutze's Second Inaugural Address

On a stormy December night in 1776 General George Washington and his men braved the cold and crossed the Delaware River to attack unsuspecting British soldiers. This bold move helped to turn the tides of the American Revolution and proved to be one of the most important American victories of the war. This historical battle was commemorated through a painting by German artist, Emmanuel Leutze. The painting of George Washington crossing the Delaware River properly represents the fighting spirit and resiliency of the colonial forces during the American Revolution.

Important times in World history; two must come to mind: World War II and a piece of an American legacy, when Washington crosses the Delaware. Both events were painted by some of the world’s most creative and well-known artists; Pablo Picasso and Emmanuel Leutze. At first glance, not much is similar about these beautiful paintings, you may not even realize that there is more to the story than what first greets your eyes.

The year 1776 is an important year in America’s history, for it is the year that the colonies in America declared independence from British rule. It is important to note, however, that the declaration of freedom did not occur without a grueling fight between the British and colonial troops. In David McCullough’s 1776, readers are submerged into the year of 1776 into the American colonies where the battle for independence was fought. McCullough guides the readers through all the hardships of the colonial troops and their leader, George Washington. These hardships included the battles at Boston and New York. But the most important issue George Washington and his troops faced was the crossing of the Delaware River during the frigid winter when the temperature was almost always in the single digits. The troops conquered this terrifying journey in order to surprise the German troops in Trenton, New Jersey.

The painting Washington Crossing the Delaware by Emanuel Leutze shows all types of hardships that

Significance in history is remembered and revisited every day through recollection of each event in various media. All of the dates are immortalized in time through textbooks or paintings, reminders of what we have done and how far we have come. These events each possess unfathomable amounts of interpretations, all of which have been transformed through the years by sourcing and resourcing the same event in time. A prime example is the historic event on 25 December 1776, in which George Washington made his historic crossing of the Delaware River. This event plays a major part in our country’s founding, and has hence received numerous visual texts, poems, textbook articles, and so forth. The famous painting titled “Washington Crossing the Delaware”

“ E Pluribus Unum is a fact” (Steinbeck 1). This statement is the motto of the United States and is translated as “one out of many.” The text “E Pluribus Unum” shows how America was not just simply created, but required

The next pieces of art were made with commemorative intentions, so that we not only fail to forget our history for better or for worst, but also to give thanks to those who have sacrificed themselves in the name of what they were fighting for. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial constructed in 1980-1982 and made out of Black granite, was designed by a student name Maya Lin. This controversial wall Bears the names of 60,000 American servicemen and women who died or are missing from the time of the war. These names were cleverly engraved down chronological order by year of death/missing. The memorial has influenced many other public memorials, despite the fact many were against it in the beginning. Death of General Wolfe by Benjamin West depicts the military battle of 1759 in which the British Army defeated the French in a struggle for control of the Canadian portion of North America. The general, James Wolfe died on the battlefield just as his troop’s secured victory. His death represented the idea of patriotic self-sacrifice. This painting was also a controversial piece because of the wardrobe choice the artist decided to depict the “heroes” in. What really strikes me those most in this painting is the background. There is a billowing of smoke that seems to encompass almost half of the canvas, however the light from the midday sun looks as if it is starting to shine through. This could represent the victory of the battle or the Gods coming to lay General Wolfe to rest. You can also see that all the men surrounding General Wolfe are turned his way or even blatantly pointing. This draws the viewer to Wolfe’s fallen form even despite the fact that there is so much more surrounding him. Leutze’s Washington Crossing the Delaware honors George Washington’s crossing of the Delaware River in 1776 during the American Revolutionary War. This act was the first move in a surprise attack against the Hessian forces

By incorporating these common ideals into American Progress, Gast immediately established common ground with any American viewing the painting at the time. By creating the heavenly woman in the center, who bears the innovative telegraph wire in her left hand, Gast introduces the main argument of the painting: the idea that it was the heavenly duty of Americans to expand the country all the way to the Pacific Ocean. This idea surely resonated with people at the time.

From the Star-Spangled Banner, to the bald eagle, the US flag, and the White House, these are all symbols of America. Each one has its own special meaning, representing our country and its people. The Declaration of Independence was one of our first successful fights for our rights and freedom. Over the years our country has made many great accomplishments that we are so proud of. Of all the things that symbolizes our country, what do they mean to you?

March 4, 1933, the day Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s delivered his inaugural address to the country. A country suffering from depression, joblessness and from the fear of inevitable demise, Franklin D. Roosevelt comes to the stand and speaks words that would ring on in American history for decades to come. He first reassures the American people that he will be spear heading the problems that have besieged the nation and then exclaims the timeless phrase “ There is nothing to fear but fear itself.” These words couldn’t come at a more pressing time in American history. The very essence of what America stood for was at risk and the only person that could truly stop this train from derailing into oblivion was FDR. FDR and his administration single handedly prevented the collapse of the economy, brought progressive change to the country that expanded liberty and made monumental political changes, which help sustain the U.S. from collapsing during the years of the depression through bills and programs such as the First and Second New Deal. The country that FDR inherited was in economic shambles due to the depression.

This painting by Emanuel Gottlieb Leutze illustrates the crossing of the Delaware River, lead by General Washington, with his soldiers from the continental army. Even though this painting was painted years after the war of independence, it was a time period when art was booming in the Americas, and it captures everyone’s emotions and details clearly in the painting.

There is struggle and determination shown in both. The actions of Washington can be considered the same as well as the theme that “in times of struggle, people can persevere with the help of a strong leader.” The painting shows the facial expressions of the men and their actions as being struggling. (Leutze Washington

Jackson Lefevre Mrs. Reyer 1st Block 5 February 2017 Washington Crossing the Delaware The painting, Washington Crossing the Delaware, by E. Leutze, and the poem, “Washington Crossing the Delaware,” by David Shulman have similarities and differences. Both of these are very influential pieces and continue to represent the battle of these men and what they went through to gain their freedom. The creators of these works have slightly different ways of portraying the subject of matter, but the ideas behind are predominantly the same.

The piece of are that I am choosing to explain is the Liberty Leading the People painted by Eugène Delacroix in the year of 1830. In a whole picture it exemplifies large and deep expression. All the figures are in motion and there isn't any one just standing. In the Romantic period there was revolution in the Americas and in France and this is a painting of the French revolution. Some of the figures that are showing expression is the urchin right next to the woman representing liberty. He looks like he is running to keep up with Liberty and is swinging his arms. There is a commoner man on his all fours staring up at Liberty like he is either praising or realizing that his prayers have been answered to Liberty. Also the French Flag, each color

The Washington Family by Edward Savage, painted from 1789-1796, features American’s original “First Family.” (Fig. 1) George Washington sits around a table in his Mount Vernon home with his wife, Martha and her two grandchildren, whom the Washingtons adopted following the death of their parents. Behind them, a household slave stands ready to serve and a vast landscape sprawls outside the window. Though the painting appears to be a simple, family portrait, it actually contains deeper, political messages.