The Metropolitan Museum of Art has an incredible art collection that provides not only an entertaining view but also acts as an important source of history and its timelines. A majority of the attendees to the museum on the 11th of March, 2016 were students mainly of history as well as diverse local and international tourists that appreciate timeless pieces of art.
One of the most invaluable paintings is titled "Washington Crossing the Delaware." The oil on canvas painting was originally done by Emmanuel Leutze, an artist of German origin, in 1851. It offers illustrations of George Washington on a boat crossing the Delaware. He appears to be leading a couple of boats full of soldiers on his way to mount an attack on Hessians on the 25th of December, 1176. It is important as it seems to depict George Washington's character as an administrator who always led from the front.
Source: Leutze (1851)
The piece of art is invaluable especially given the artist's first attempt at it was destroyed by a fire in his studio. It was later destroyed by a bomb during WWII before being restored. Its survivability is akin to the testament of the tenacity of American nationhood, which the piece depicts some of its founding moments.
The piece of art enables one to relate to American history more saw its clamor for independence. Washington, the chief of staff of the Continental army, led incursions into the British Armies and its sympathizers stationed in the American colony (Lillback, 2006). The Continental army eventually triumphed in the American Revolutionary War culminating in the Declaration of Independence from Britain. With the declaration, America began its journey into nationhood as an independent country. It is thanks in part to the efforts of great men like George Washington as depicted by the piece of art.
"Thomas Jefferson" is another invaluable piece of art found in the museum. It was originally done by John Trumbull in 1788. It is a unique oil on mahogany piece of art. It is significant as it is a depiction of the presentation of the Declaration of Independence to the Yale University. The present portrait and other subsequent ones have been copies of the piece at the university's art gallery. It was requested by Thomas Jefferson himself, who then gifted it to a friend. The artist, John Trumbull, had a one on one encounter with Thomas Jefferson, once in Paris and subsequently in America. This close interaction with him can almost be felt in the painting as it appears to depict even the emotions of Jefferson at the time.
Source: Trumbull, 1785
The piece of art is important in assisting one understand one of the great men in the history of America as a nation. Jefferson is one of the founding fathers of the nation and among the primary authors of the declaration of independence (Appleby, 2003). He became the nation's first secretary of state under whom the foundations of America as a global power were laid. Later on as president of the country, he was instrumental in expanding the geographical mass of the nation through the Purchase of Louisiana from the French. He was also a president of many firsts including sending U.S troops to protect the country's foreign interests as was the case with the 1801 Barbary War (Bernstein, 2003). The "Thomas Jefferson" piece of art arouses one's inquisitiveness to want to learn more about him.
The visit to the museum was exciting and educational at the same time. From the smell to the rows of centuries-old art pieces, one could almost feel as if they were physically transported back in history. The pieces of art were also attached to comprehensive descriptions that enabled one to understand the artists' motivations and emotions hence an almost perfect caption of history. The visit was a treasured lesson of history.
References
Appleby, J. (2003). Thomas Jefferson: The American Presidents Series: The 3rd President, 1801–1809. New York: Henry Holt and Company
Bernstein. R. (2009). The Founding Fathers Reconsidered. New York: Oxford University Press
Leutze, E. (1851). Washington Crossing the Delaware. New York: Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Lillback, P. (2006). George Washington's Sacred Fire. Philadelphia. Providence Forum Press
Trumbull, J. (1785). Thomas Jefferson. New York: Metropolitan Museum of Art.
