Battling the elements before engaging English and Hessian troops in 1776, George Washington and his troops are melodramatically depicted in Emanuel Leutze’s famous “Washington Crossing the Delaware.” Born in Germany, Leutze (1816 – 1868) used the Rhine River as his model for the Delaware River in this famous painting, one of his well regarded American historical scenes. The original painting, a huge 12 feet high and 21 feet long, was damaged in a fire, restored, and then destroyed during World War II was replaced by a smaller version which remains an enduring symbol of freedom and patriotism.

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