Washington Crossing The Delaware Burned In Germany
How a German painting of an American victory reminds us of our true cultural heritage
On September 5th 1942 a squadron of 200 British bombers flew over the German city of Bremen. They unleashed their cargo devastating the city. The Kunsthalle Bremen, the city’s art museum, also took a hit.
In the fire that enveloped the building, artwork would be turned to ash. Among the paintings destroyed would be the original “Washington Crossing The Delaware.” The iconic American painting of its war of independence from England would meet its end in Germany— to English bombs ironically.
You may have found yourself reading the last paragraph over again because it didn’t make any sense. The American painting “Washington Crossing The Delaware” is currently hanging in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Actually, the painting hanging there is a copy. The original stayed in its home in Germany, where it was created.
