The paintings commemorate General George Washington's crossing of the Delaware River with the Continental Army on the night of December 25–26, 1776, during the American Revolutionary War. That action was the first move in a surprise attack and victory against Hessian forces at the Battle of Trenton in New Jersey on the morning of December 26.

This epic painting honors a critical turning point in the American colonists’ war against Great Britain. It was a great success in Leutze’s native Germany—given the country’s own revolutionary fervor of the period—as well as in the United States, where it quickly became an iconic image, frequently recast by later artists.

The painting depicts George Washington and his army dramatically crossing the icy Delaware River for a surprise dawn attack on the British at Trenton, New Jersey, on December 25, 1776.

Washington Crossing the Delaware is one of the most recognizable images in the history of American art. You might be surprised, however, to learn that it was not painted by an American artist at work in the United States, but was instead completed by Emanuel Leutze, an artist born in Germany, and that it was painted in Düsseldorf during the ...

Aug 12, 2022 · During the American War of Independence, Christmas night of 1776 was a monumental undertaking for George Washington and his troops who crossed the Delaware River to siege the Hessians. This article will discuss Emanuel Leutze’s painting about this event, titled Washington Crossing the Delaware (1851).

Oct 24, 2024 · Washington Crossing the Delaware by Emanuel Gottlieb Leutze (pronounced “loit-seh,” 1816-1868) is America’s best-known historical painting and one of the best-known works of art in history.

Dec 3, 2012 · The Washington Crossing Historic Park Website describes Leutze’s painting and provides maps and a detailed account of the crossing, Durham boats used to cross the Delaware, and the battle.

3 days ago · Emanuel Leutze’s painting Washington Crossing the Delaware was completed in Germany seventy-five years after George Washington’s legendary victory at Trenton, yet the painting has become perhaps the most iconic image commemorating the American Revolution.

Feb 17, 2024 · Emanuel Leutze’s enormous 1851 painting “Washington Crossing the Delaware” depicts the general’s journey on Dec. 25, 1776, as he launched a surprise attack on hundreds of Hessian troops...

When Emanuel Leutze's monumental painting Washington Crossing the Delaware was first shown in New York in 1851, it created a sensation with the American public. The image soon became an icon of American courage and heroism.