Military Bridge, Across the Chickahominy, Virginia

1862

From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art

Dominant colour

Military Bridge, Across the Chickahominy, Virginia is a 1862 by David B. Woodbury, a Impressionism work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.

Who painted this?: David B. Woodbury
When & what style?: 1862 · Impressionism
Where can I see it?: Cleveland Museum of Art

About this work

The painting shows a military log bridge crossing a swampy area. It's a complex scene with many details. The bridge was built under tough conditions and was later destroyed by floodwaters. The artist merged documenting an event with recording a landscape. This was a challenging task, as the bridge was temporary and the surroundings were difficult to access. You can learn more about this type of scene by looking at the work of the museum where this is held, The Cleveland Museum of Art.

The story of this work

Overview

In this complex composition, David B. Woodbury merged the documentation of an event with his desire to record an impressive landscape. The image depicts a precarious, yet essential military log bridge that traverses a swamp created by the accumulated waters of the Chickahominy River, located southeast of Richmond, Virginia. Constructed under difficult physical conditions, the structure was later destroyed by floodwaters caused by heavy rains. The workers involved with the structure's construction are positioned in a single line so that each person is identifiable; however, reduced to…

Read the full account in the museum source.