Emanuel Leutze (1816 – 1868) is famous for his American historical scenes. Born in Germany, Leutze created his most compellingly composed paintings using American tourists and art students as models. These works are now owned by the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art and Harvard Law School. Already a successful artist, Leutze was commissioned by Congress to decorate a stairway in the Capitol Building in 1860. He was a member of the National Academy of Design and the Union Club of New York which own a number of his iconic works that are symbolic of patriotism and freedom.

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