Washington Crossing
the Delaware

Before George Washington was America’s first president, he was a general in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. The basis for his legendary status started there, as he defied the odds and established himself as an upstanding and fearless leader.

The painting Washington Crossing the Delaware (1851) by German American artist Emanuel Leutze is burned into Americans’ understanding of the general and the war.

The painting depicts a moment before the Battle of Trenton on December 26, 1776, a turning point in America’s fight for freedom. 

This month marks the 249th anniversary of the battle, offering a reason to take a close look at the painting.

What do its symbols and figures tell us about America’s founding? How does the painting speak to Americans’ views on freedom even today?

The moment depicted is one of triumph in the face of defeat. 

After a hard winter — a period of freezing temperatures and unexpected snowstorms — the Continental Army was short on supplies. Morale was low.

(The ice in the painting is not true to life — Leutze was likely looking at the Rhine River in Germany for inspiration rather than the Delaware River, which ices over on occasion in a sheet, rather than in blocks like this.)

Despite soldiers’ flagging spirits, General Washington rallied the troops.

In the painting, he stands as the compositional focal point, tall and proud. He is a picture of victory, leadership and steadfastness. And he almost literally shines, a beacon of democracy.

Using the element of surprise, General Washington led a battalion of men across the river from Pennsylvania to Trenton, New Jersey, where they were outnumbered by German Hessian troops.

There are 12 figures clearly visible in the foreground of the boat ...

... and one hidden figure, holding a musket affixed with a bayonet.

These 13 symbolize a united American front made of the 13 original colonies.

James Monroe holds the American flag, the artist’s way of foreshadowing his importance to the emerging nation.

Monroe would lead the country as the fifth U.S. president from 1817 to 1825. (Like George Washington, he was from Virginia.)

The officer in the blue coat wears the full uniform from a Delaware regiment, while another toward the front of the boat wears a Scottish tartan hat, suggesting his more recent association with the Army. 

An African American figure is most likely placed to indicate that both freed slaves and enslaved people fought in the American Revolution, including in this battle.

The troops in the boats in the background represent the 2,400 men that Washington led into the Battle of Trenton.

(There would have been no horses, in real life, brought over in this crossing, due to the small size of the boats.)

Despite the odds, General Washington’s men, inspired by his leadership, landed a crushing blow to the British-supported army. The battle that ensued after this crossing is considered the turning point of the Revolutionary War — if Washington had not been victorious, America might not be a country today. 

What do you think? Did the artist’s choices capture a pivotal moment in history?

Keep an eye on the State Department and White House websites for more on America’s 250th anniversary.