The Art, Imagery and Parody of the Ten Crucial Days
What follows is a gallery of art inspired by the events during the Ten Crucial Days. Other than, perhaps, Gettysburg, we know of no other military campaign in American history that has engendered so much art. Granted, the genre had a head start since the Trenton and Princeton Campaigns occurred only six months after the birth of the United States. Historians could easily argue that the American Declaration of Independence would have been a moot point without the Ten Crucial Days. The iconic Emanuel Leutze image of Washington Crossing the Delaware garners worldwide recognition and has spawned countless variations, uses, and incessant mimicry. But, beyond Leutze's glorified expression of resolve, determination, and hope, there have been many other visions of the events near the banks of the Delaware on those frigid days in December of 1776 and January 1777.
Perspectives on Emanual Leutze's Washington Crossing the Delaware
- To read the 1964 article Why Washington Stood Up in The Boat, George F. Shear, in American Heritage, Click here. (BTW... the article explains that Washington would have known better than to stand in such a small rowboat. However, Washington and his men would not have crossed in the small boats depicted in the painting. They crossed in Durham and ferry boats. Everyone would have been standing.)
- To read the 2003 article, Rethinking Washington Crossing the Delaware by Craig Daniel in The Montréal Review. Click here.
- To read the 2019 article, Washington Crossing the Delaware: A Beacon on the American Spirit in The Objective Standard by Joseph Kellard, Click here.
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The Art of the Ten Crucial Days
The Bicentennial Ten Crucial Days Portfolio
by Women Artists of Princeton
This portfolio deals with specific events and symbolic interpretations of a critical period in the American Revolution-the crossing of the Delaware River by George Washington and the Continental Army and the battles of Trenton and Princeton. When Washington made the crossing on December 25, 1776, he was embarking on what he thought might be his final effort in the cause of American liberty. After a long series of humiliating- defeats, morale was at a low ebb and the army was impoverished and exhausted. Furthermore, his men, disillusioned and discouraged, would disperse in a few days when enlistments ended. The success of the surprise attack upon the Hessians in Trenton, and the succeeding victories of the following days convinced British and American soldiers and citizenry that the Continental Army merited their respect as a fighting force. These battles marked a turning point. They gave the almost defeated nation the courage to continue and eventually to prevail.
The idea for this portfolio was developed by Zelda Laschever in connection with her plans for the New Jersey State Museum Children's Bicentennial Leaming Environment-a celebration of the Ten Crucial Days. The fifteen artists represented in the collection wish to thank the Princeton Bank and Trust for the grant supporting the production of the portfolio. The portfolio has been published in an edition of 20 of which this is number. It was edited and designed by Judith K. Brodsky and Helen Schwartz. Each edition was hand printed under the supervision of the individual artist. The text was set in Melior at Communication Graphics Corporation. The text pages were printed by the Olney Printing Company of Philadelphia.
Book Cover Art of the Ten Crucial Days
Washington Crossing Inspired Miscellany
Most art is also merchandise. Painters may be commissioned by benefactors or express their creativity by leveraging a popular image to make a statement, one in which they may be able to offer for sale and earn a living as artists. The iconic 1851 Leutze painting we see today at the Metropolitan Museum of Art was Leutze's second rendition. His first, which he began in 1849, was destroyed during WWII when the British RAF bombed the Bremen Museum. Leutze created a third smaller version which was sold at auction in 2015 for $43 million. There are many commercial renditions inspired by the painting. Posting all of the merchandise produced over the decades would be impossible. The image is ubiquitous. Here are just a few items that have been created. These are posted for educational purposes, not resale, without the copyright holder's permission.
The Mimic and Parody of Leutze's Iconic Painting
In this section are works of serious art, interpretation, and outright parody. Many are commercial renditions that are inspired by Emmanuel Leutze's iconic 1851 painting. These are posted for educational purposes, not for resale, without expressed permission from the copyright holder.