Photograph by Ed Pollard, Hasselblad H4D50 - 2011.

Washington Crossing the Delaware

Artist George Caleb Bingham (American, 1811-1879)

Date1856-71

MediumOil on canvas

DimensionsOverall: 36 5/8 x 57 1/2 in. (93 x 146.1 cm)
Overall, Frame: 48 x 69 1/8 x 5 1/2 in. (121.9 x 175.6 x 14 cm)

ClassificationsAmerican art

Credit LineGift of Walter P. Chrysler, Jr., in honor of Walter P. Chrysler, Sr.

Object number83.589

Terms

George Washington
Boats
People
American Revolution
U.S. history
War
Military
Soldiers
Blue
Gray
White
Red
Yellow
Green

Collections

American Art before 1945

On View

On view

DescriptionThis is an oil on canvas painting. Washington stands at the apex of a pyramid of figures, on horseback. Bingham portrays Washington and his crew riding on a broad, flat-bottomed raftboat, through icy waters; the boat seems to proceed directly toward the viewer.

Label TextGeorge Caleb Bingham American, 1811–1879 Washington Crossing the Delaware, 1856–71 Oil on canvas On Christmas night, 1776, General George Washington’s army crossed the Delaware River to launch a surprise attack on British forces at Trenton, New Jersey. His victory was a turning point in the American Revolution and became a favorite subject among later generations of painters. The fame of Emanuel Leutze’s Washington Crossing the Delaware (1851) inspired this heroic scene by genre painter George Caleb Bingham. As weary soldiers row through the icy waters, Bingham presents Washington above on horseback, an elegant ideal of masculinity and leadership. Gift of Walter P. Chrysler, Jr., in honor of Walter P. Chrysler, Sr. 83.589