Washington before Yorktown
1824, reworked 1825
Medium
oil on canvas
Dimensions
overall: 349.25 × 306.07 cm (137 1/2 × 120 1/2 in.) framed: 394.97 × 351.16 × 19.69 cm (155 1/2 × 138 1/4 × 7 3/4 in.)
Classification
Painting
Department
CAB
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Corcoran Collection (Gift of the Mount Vernon Ladies Association, Mount Vernon, Virginia)
Accession Number
2014.136.64
Art Historical Context
Step into the dramatic moment of American independence with *Washington before Yorktown* (1824, reworked 1825), monumental oil on canvas by Rembrandt Peale. This massive painting—measuring over 11 by 10 feet—capt General George Washington on the eve of the pivotal 1781 Battle of Yorktown, decisive clash that forced British surrender and secured victory in the Revolutionary War. Painted nearly half a century later, it reflects the era's surging national pride, fueled by events like the War of 1812 and a growing reverence for the Founding Fathers. Rembrandt Peale, son of portraitist Charles Wil...
About the Artist
Rembrandt Peale · 1778–1860
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