Ten Famous American Paintings

By james Art Collections American Art, Declaration, Liberty, Lists, Nighthawks, Washingon 0 Comments

Arrangement in Grey and Black: Portrait of the Painter’s Mother

“Arrangement in Grey and Black”, also known as “Whistler's Mother”, is an oil on canvas painting by James Abbott McNeill Whistler. The subject of the painting, Anna McNeill Whistler, posed for the painting while they were living in London. Another painting with the title "Arrangement in Grey and Black, No. 2" shows a man in the same position. Over the years, “Whistler's Mother” has been exhibited in several galleries and museums in the United States. It is currently at the Musée d'Orsay in Paris.

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Nighthawks

“Nighthawks” is a famous 1942 painting by Edward Hopper. It is easily the most recognizable American artwork of the 20th century. Inspired by a restaurant on Greenwich Avenue, the painting shows people sitting in the restaurant late at night. Upon its completion, it was displayed at Frank K.M. Rehn's gallery for about a month. It was purchased as part of the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago by its director, Daniel Catton Rich for $3,000.

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Stag at Sharkeys

“A Stag at Sharkeys” is a 1909 painting by George Bellows depicting two fighting boxers in a ring.

The athletic club referred to in the painting was located across George Bellows' studio. The painting is one of his works that portray urban life in the early 1900s. The painting is now at the Cleveland Museum of Art.

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Madam Pierre Gautreau (Madame X)

“Madame X” is a portrait of Virginie Amélie Avegno Gautreau, was painted by John Singer Sargent in 1884. The subject was a woman who got married to a banker more than twice her age. The painting caused a controversy upon its debut in France because of sensual portrayal of the subject. The painting was sold to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1916.

Madame X (Madame Pierre Gautreau), John Singer Sargent 1884

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Paul Revere

“Paul Revere” is a portrait of the famous patriot painted by John Singleton Copley in 1770. The portrait was painted years before Revere's legendary ride to alert the patriots of the arrival of the British. The painting shows Paul Revere as a silversmith cradling his chin in his left hand while holding a teapot in the other. It was given to the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston by Revere's great grandsons.

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The Grass Fire (Back-Firing)

“The Grass Fire” was painted by Frederick Remington in 1908. The painting shows a haunting image of Native Americans and their horses with light from a fire reflecting on their bodies. It was one of Remington's 70 nocturne paintings, some of which were painted during the last years of his life. It is now at The Museum of Fine Arts in Houston.

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Peaceable Kingdom

“Peaceable Kingdom” was painted by a Quaker named by Edward Hicks around 1825 to 1830. The painting, drawn from Isaiah 11, depicts children playing various wild animals. Hicks painted about 60 different versions of the Peacable Kingdom. A version of this painting is now at the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C.

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Portrait of George Washington

“Portrait of George Washington” also known as the “Athenaeum” portrait, is an unfinished painting by Gilbert Stuart in 1796. Although it was never finished, the Athenaeum was his best known works and he used it throughout his career to create replicas. The National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution and the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston are co-owners of this portrait.

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Washington Crossing the Delaware

“Washington Crossing the Delaware” was painted by a German-American artist named Emanuel Gottlieb Leutze. It commemorates the surprise attack against the Hessian forces at Trenton, New Jersey, in the Battle of Trenton. While the original artwork was destroyed in Germany during World War II, two more copies of the painting exists. One is currently at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City and the other copy is at the The Minnesota Marine Art Museum in Winona, Minnesota.

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The Old Plantation

“The Old Plantation” is a painting attributed to John Rose which was probably painted between 1785 and 1795. The painting depicts African slaves enjoying their leisure time. Two men are seen playing musical instruments while another is seen dancing with a stick. This painting is believed to be a scene in John Rose's own plantation. The painting is currently at the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum in Williamsburg.

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