George Washington Synthesis In 1789, when George Washington was elected president, he became an important figure who later impacts American history and future generations, because he symbolizes all the virtues this nation believes in and stands for. People visualize Washington as a hero for all his acts of bravery, leadership and dedication to the United States. He fought to build and expand the reputation of America. Washington’s mythology inspires America due to his morals, being highly respected and his passion for his beloved nation. Many artist believed George Washington had the look of power and control, so they would paint, sketch or sculpt images of him to create that “powerful” setting. For example, Emanuel Leutze in 1851, …show more content…
But in an article by Smithsonian Institution Press, they said that the public was not happy with the “attracted controversy and criticism” the sculpture brought. Many believed that George Washington being half-naked in a toga, with a sword and point upwards to the heavens, was an insult. Only because it leans more on the Greek mythology than American mythology, making people feel like Greek virtues are the only goldy way. A portrait of George Washington was drawn by an artist named William Bingham and his wife, where they were trying to capture the morals he stood for. Another source talking about the portrait, Gilbert Stewart states, “this painting was a gift to former British Prime Minister (...) a lasting peace between Britain and America.” This painting was suppose to symbolize peace between the two countries for the world to see. In the image, Washington stands with a sword in his hand, a gold chair sitting behind him, books scattered all over a table and his welcoming hand held out in front of him. All these represent his values; sword symbolizing the military, books symbolizing his knowledge and education, and his out stretched hand symbolizing a warm welcome. In the same article, another source by Jill Lepore states that Washington was a boy who “he copied out a set of sixteenth-century Italian ‘Rules of Civility’” (Lepore 8). He strived to become more educated boy so he could grow to be an intelligent man. By making
On a stormy December night in 1776 general George Washington and his men braved the cold and crossed the Delaware River to attack unsuspecting British soldiers. This bold move helped to turn the tides of the American Revolution and proved to be one of the most important American victories of the war. This historical battle was commemorated through a painting by German artist, Emmanuel Leutze. The painting of George Washington crossing the Delaware River properly represents the fighting spirit and resiliency of the colonial forces during the American Revolution.
George Washington born on February 22nd, 1732 was a man of honor and patriotism, He was a disciplined but fair general and a humble president who set the standards for his successors this is why he should be remembered. As a man he was a simple farmer who when duty called he fought for his former country britain. As a general he led soldiers with discipline and honor then returned to his home. As a president he was humble and refused to be anything like king.
Joseph Ellis sets out to make George Washington, the person we think of as an icon, into a real person. He wants to show us what makes him tick. He wants to turn the marble into the man. So many students today see George Washington as a memorial, a monument, a face on a dollar bill, and the man who could not lie when he cut down the cherry tree. He wants to show us the man George Washington was in his day. Ellis’s method was to divide George Washington’s life into three main parts:
Leutze’s painting, Washington Crossing the Delaware, conveys that the people of America can overlook their differences and hardship when being unified by hope. He uses pathos in the color contrast in his painting to inspire feelings of hope in the unity of America. Dark color seems to loom, almost pushing upon the ships in the painting. Nevertheless, light surrounds the ships, seeming to flow from the American flag on the first ship. The American flag is a symbol of hope for the men on these ships, each of them being drastically different. The men gathered on these ships are all drastically different . George Washington himself is there, a highly respected general among common folk and even an African American man. Each of these men different in race, rank, and opinion are unified under a flag that represents each different person as a single people for the hope that they can earn their freedom. Despite the pressing darkness the flag shines a light of hope as a symbol of unity for the people of America. The pathos used in
George Washington was the first president of the United States and is known as “the Father of Our Country. He was a man with much conviction, humility, and integrity. George Washington trusted in God, was willing to sacrifice much, and he was selfless. All of these qualities were important to his success as a military leader and as the leader of the nation. It is apparent by how revered Washington is today that he was a man of honor.
George Washington was commander in chief of the Continental army during the American Revolution and later became the first president of the United States serving from1789 until 1797. He symbolized qualities of discipline, aristocratic duty, military orthodoxy and persistence in adversity that his contemporaries valued as marked of mature political leadership
Joseph Ellis has written a very readable and concise synopsis on the life of George Washington. Though more recognizable for his works "Founding Brothers" and "American Sphinx" (about Thomas Jefferson), Ellis successfully undertakes the task of illuminating probably the most important figure in American history.
A president of the United States is at the top of the government and is under the constitution of the United States. He is the leader of not only the executive branch, but he is a leader of our great country. He is respected and known as the most intellectual political official by recognition and scholarly. Out of all of the first presidents, one left a legacy like no other, none other the Washington. George Washington had the most enduring and important legacies. He was a humane, sincere, and he selected very profound example for his country, led important wars, and set important precedents.
“Liberty, when it begins to take root, is a plant of rapid growth” (Washington). This shows how George Washington was dedicated to show how everyone should have freedom and do what they want. Alone that is hard because he is just one person who is going to make a big impact. He always went out of his was to show others how they should fight for their freedom. George Washington even became a part of the “unwritten Constitution”, part of it was “The Cabinet”, when he choose people to appoint him on the decisions to make. Through his knowledge about leadership, George Washington has impacted others by teaching them about presidency.
The United States is built on the unity of its diverse people. In his Second Inaugural Address, Abraham Lincoln stated that the Union would “accept war rather than let [the country] perish.” This shows Lincoln’s, and the American people’s, dedication to preserving the unity of the United States. Lincoln uses this statement to appeal to the people’s logical and moral side by saying that fighting for unity was the right thing to do and that it was better than giving up on it, and the country as a whole. In the painting George Washington Crossing the Delaware, the different and diverse people represent the many types of people that fought for freedom. Emmanuel leutze uses the diversity of the people in the painting to connect with the observer’s emotions. This painting
Everyone knows George Washington as the first president, but most people do not know his other roles in the creation of the United States of America. In Joseph J. Ellis’s book, His Excellency George Washington, Ellis tells about Washington’s life. He includes his time as a general in the Revolutionary War, his life in retirement after the war, and also his time as the president. Ellis’s main focus in the book is to paint a picture for the reader so it almost feels like they are right next to Washington as his life is explained. The information in his book allows for readers to have a better understanding of what Washington went through in his life and also ,at times, gives educated guesses on what Washington might have been thinking. Through this book, it is easy to see why George Washington is referred to as one of the greatest Americans to ever live.
What was most fascinating, his profound love for his country deeply rooted in his passion for nature of agriculture and gardens? As Wulf displays, He used words like trees and plants as metaphors to describe the struggle for independence. America had just declared their independence with Washington as commander and chief, he was poor equipped and bracing himself for the first and major war for liberty, one would think his mind was constantly on strategy but often his minds drifts of to his garden. He even recommended that his troops make Rigid gardens so they can produce vegetables for the nation. Washington saw the future of America as a country of people and not by soldiers, but by farmers an, “agrarian society that would be industrious, happy and independent” 1. As Wulf explains for Washington trees were a glorious expression of American beauty and political trop. Since the first settles had arrived in 1607 in Virginia they desperately tried to recreate the gardens and homes they left behind in Britain. Washington Felt strongly about cutting all ties and memories of the old mother land. He wanted a new culture, landscape filled with only American plants. He wanted nothing to do with Britain’s plants poisoning the
George Washington riding his horse is the most recognized of all his designs. I cannot say enough about the time, thought, affection and effort put into these two great pieces of art. The upside down bottles were important because these bottles were subject to be gifts. There was no room for error on George Washington riding his horse. The neatly displaced bore with fine laced vines to the shortest blade of grass Andrew did it confidently. The portrait of the first President in the sand was amazing to me that he had to get right an honor it must to have been. The skies were cloudy and the horse a little irritated, however, The President remained calm under pressure. The color scheme brings George and the horse together as one. The brown strap
George Washington existed to be an emblem for national unification; He embraced the ambition of the nation. Ellis scrutinizes the authority of make believe or folklore fables due to how his control became a legend because of how he manipulated it to be.
The work I have selected to look closely at is Parson Weems’ Fable “Grant Wood” created by Mason Locke Weems or sometimes referred to as Parson Weems. He created this painting in 1939 to tell the story of young George Washington and his inability to lie. The medium of this painting is oil on canvas and is currently in the Amon Carter Museum of American Art, Fort Worth, Texas. The painting has a width of 127.3 cm by a height of 97.5 cm. This painting has main components that grab the attention of who is looking at it. In the painting, older George Washington is outside the frame showing what happened during the incident between young George Washington and his father. This painting created a fable that would later be known as the reason why