Artwork
Washington Reviewing the Western Army at Fort Cumberland, Maryland
Washington Reviewing the Western Army at Fort Cumberland, Maryland is an oil painting by the American Folk Art artist Frederick Kemmelmeyer. It dates from 1795 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting portrays George Washington on horseback reviewing troops at Fort Cumberland, Maryland, in 1795.
The painting portrays George Washington on horseback reviewing troops at Fort Cumberland, Maryland, in 1795. Washington is shown in an equestrian pose, surrounded by soldiers and the fort's setting, emphasizing his role as commander-in-chief of the nascent United States army. As a history painting, the work commemorates this military review and symbolizes federal authority, national unity, and Washington's leadership during the early republic's efforts to secure the western frontier.
Technique & Style
Created in 1795 by Frederick Kemmelmeyer, this history painting is executed in oil paint on a canvas support and measures approximately 57.8 by 94.6 centimeters. The composition depicts an equestrian scene of George Washington reviewing soldiers at Fort Cumberland. The medium and dimensions are recorded in the museum's catalogue.
History & Provenance
The painting was created by Frederick Kemmelmeyer in 1795, in oil on canvas, as recorded in both the museum's cataloguing data and the Wikidata entry for the work. It is held in the American Wing of the Metropolitan Museum of Art under accession number 63.201.2. The available sources do not record the original commission, the circumstances of its creation, earlier owners, or any exhibition history prior to its accession.
Overview
This oil on canvas painting, titled Washington Reviewing the Western Army at Fort Cumberland, Maryland, depicts George Washington mounted on a white horse. He observes lines of soldiers dressed in blue and buff uniforms, positioned outside a fort from which a flag flies. The artwork captures a military inspection scene, presenting a formal moment in American history.
Artist & collection
Artist
Frederick Kemmelmeyer (c. 1755 – c. 1821) was an American painter. He was entirely self-taught and his work is generally classified as folk art.
