Works from the Met History Essay Research Coursework

Works from the Met
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Works From the Met
My first painting of choice is "Washington reviewing the western army at Fort Cumberland, Maryland," attributed to Frederick Kemmelmeyer. The artwork was produced post-1795, and the medium of the painting is oil on canvas. This work's goal was to present the achievement of George Washington, who summoned the militia at Fort Cumberland, Maryland, to suppress the rebellion in western Pennsylvania. This painting represents the artist's acknowledgment of Washington's significance as a leader. Furthermore, the painting entails historical details such as the federal government's power in enforcing the law and Washington's impact in propelling the federalist cause. The painting serves as a representation of George Washington's successes during his reign. Furthermore, the painting is essential in the reconciliation of people against the war. The artwork is based on the context of the whiskey rebellion during the American Revolution in 1790. During this, several states incurred huge debts forcing treasury secretary Alexander Hamilton to suggest transfer to the federal government's debt. Moreover, an excise tax on whiskey was imposed to mitigate financial problems (Hogeland, 2010). However, George Washington was against Hamilton's whiskey tax proposal. Washington further gathered opinions from citizens and local government officials, but the popular verdict was in support of the bill passed. Violence broke out in protest against the new tax law. A series of violent attacks by rebels led to unrest in the country. However, Washington was interested in resolving the conflicts by holding peace talks with the protesters, which did not seem to work. He finally sends the militia to suppress the rebellion in western Pennsylvania.
My Second choice of painting is "Washington Crossing the Delaware" by Emmanuel Leutze. The artwork was produced in 1851, and the medium of the painting is oil on canvas. The painting represents Washington's attack on the Hessians at Trenton. Furthermore, the artist commemorates George Washington's contribution to the continental army during the American Revolutionary War. Moreover, the painting is representative of victory against the Hessian forces at the Battle of Trenton. The art work is a secular representation of heroism, which is evident in the artist's intention to emphasize general Washington's position. The artist Intended to propagate the spirit of revolution and inspire liberal reforms. Moreover, the painting is significant since it suggests a sense of national pride and unity. The image is based on the historical context of the American Revolution in 1776. George Washington and his troops' surprise attack was triggered by the need to be redeemed from the ...