American Identity 1770 to 1850
Liberty in the Form of the Goddess of Youth Giving Support to the Bald Eagle, 1800
This painting on glass contains several images concerning a new nationalism in America. The most obvious is Liberty as the Goddess of youth feeding the eagle, a symbol of America. In the background are an American flag, a view of Boston harbor, a scene of an early American victory in the Revolutionary War, and other images. The image and its classical references also provide the idea of the destiny of the United States to become great and powerful, because it is supported by Liberty and the Goddess of youth.
http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/46.67.85
This painting on glass contains several images concerning a new nationalism in America. The most obvious is Liberty as the Goddess of youth feeding the eagle, a symbol of America. In the background are an American flag, a view of Boston harbor, a scene of an early American victory in the Revolutionary War, and other images. The image and its classical references also provide the idea of the destiny of the United States to become great and powerful, because it is supported by Liberty and the Goddess of youth.
http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/46.67.85
Cider Marking, by William Sidney Mount, 1841
This oil painting depicts the process of cider making, a rural process associated with the common man in the election of 1840, the date written on one of the cider barrels in the painting. The cider makers were associated with William Henry Harrison, a Whig candidate who appealed to the population as a poor farmer with hard cider as his symbol, despite his high class background.http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/66.126
This oil painting depicts the process of cider making, a rural process associated with the common man in the election of 1840, the date written on one of the cider barrels in the painting. The cider makers were associated with William Henry Harrison, a Whig candidate who appealed to the population as a poor farmer with hard cider as his symbol, despite his high class background.http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/66.126
Side Drum, 1800
This drum probably had a military use. Many military drums were painted with the bald eagle, a symbol of the United States, and this drum also has a red, white, and blue shield on it. The drum shows American military symbolism that was present from the Revolution through the Civil War.
http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/58.82
This drum probably had a military use. Many military drums were painted with the bald eagle, a symbol of the United States, and this drum also has a red, white, and blue shield on it. The drum shows American military symbolism that was present from the Revolution through the Civil War.
http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/58.82
Fur Traders Descending the Missouri, by George Bingham, 1845
This painting references several themes in American history in the 17th and 18th centuries. It depicts a either a French fur trader and his half Indian son, or just as Western fur traders. Either way, it shows a common type of commerce, fur trading, that led to most of the exploration and initial development of the west. The animal chained to the bow and the half-Indian child are symbolic of the expansion of the Western and American cultures westward into the great American wilderness.
http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/33.61
This painting references several themes in American history in the 17th and 18th centuries. It depicts a either a French fur trader and his half Indian son, or just as Western fur traders. Either way, it shows a common type of commerce, fur trading, that led to most of the exploration and initial development of the west. The animal chained to the bow and the half-Indian child are symbolic of the expansion of the Western and American cultures westward into the great American wilderness.
http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/33.61
Coach Painter's Sign, J. Mason, 1810
This sign depicts a bald eagle holding an American flag. It also has a ribbon reading, "J. MASON COACH PAINTER, OUR AIM IS TO PLEASE." It shows a mixing of the nationalism of that time with business. J. Mason was trying to appear patriotic to appeal to the nationalistic public and so attract more customers. The result is a mixture of an American business and the nationalism of the time.
http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/1970.190
This sign depicts a bald eagle holding an American flag. It also has a ribbon reading, "J. MASON COACH PAINTER, OUR AIM IS TO PLEASE." It shows a mixing of the nationalism of that time with business. J. Mason was trying to appear patriotic to appeal to the nationalistic public and so attract more customers. The result is a mixture of an American business and the nationalism of the time.
http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/1970.190