Auction Closing: March 30, 2024 at 11:59 PM Pacific Time
Lot Number: 163
Estimate Range: $4,000 - $6,000
1853 “Washington Crossing the Delaware” Engraving by Paul Girardet, After the original Oil Painting by E. LEUTZ


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1853-Dated Hand-Colored Engraving titled, “Washington Crossing the Delaware”, “Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1853” engraved by Paul Girardet, on pressed board, After the original Oil Painting by E. LEUTZ in 1850, Framed, Fine.

New York: Goupil & Co., 1853. Steel engraving by Paul Girardet. Attractive full hand-color. "Washington Crossing the Delaware" is a famous painting by the German-American artist Emanuel Leutze, completed in 1851. This large Hand-colored print was made in 1853, it measures about 40” wide x 25” tall, currently in a gold painted wood frame, possibly period, measuring about 44” x 29”. The original painting and this subsequent print depicts General George Washington crossing the Delaware River with his troops during the American Revolutionary War, specifically on the night of December 25-26, 1776, before the Battle of Trenton. Paul Girardet (1821-1893) was a Swiss engraver known for his skillful reproductions of famous artworks, including paintings like "Washington Crossing the Delaware." Girardet was renowned for his meticulous technique and ability to translate the details and atmosphere of original artworks into engraved form.

Printed text at bottom reads: “ENGRAVED BY PAUL GIRARDET -- Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1853, by M. Knadler, in the Clerk’s Office of the district Court of the United States for the southern district of New York -- GOUPIL & Co NEW YORK, Berlin Verlag von Goupil & Co., NEW YORK Published by GOUPIL & Co, Paris Imprime & Public par Groupil & Co.” There are scattered surface abrasions and wear most notably at the upper portions and at the top right corner, having a gray sky and colorful uniforms and American flag. They appear to be worthy of conservation and likely easy to accomplish, greatly enhancing the overall appearance. We note that a well respected major Print Shop is currently offering a copy of this print for the retail price of $12,500. This example is more affordable.
This a finely executed engraving after the important early painting, Washington Crossing the Delaware, an oil-on-canvas by the German American artist Emanuel Gottlieb Leutze, painted in 1850. This print was engraved by Paul Girardet, printed and published by Goupil & Co., 1853.

Leutze's painting commemorates General George Washington's crossing of the Delaware River on the night of December 25-26, 1776, during the American Revolutionary War. That action was the first move in a surprise attack against the Hessian forces at Trenton, New Jersey, in the Battle of Trenton.

As the end of 1776 came to a close, the American army was exhausted, depleted, and demoralized. The British had run revolutionary forces out of both New York and New Jersey. Knowing that the majority of the militia’s period of service was about to expire on the 31st of December, it was imperative that Washington craft a strategic and offensive next move. The surprise attack was successful, proving to be a major victory and providing the much-needed morale boost for Americans to re-enlist.

Leutze’s painting of the crossing and the engravings published by Goupil have become the most iconic image of American Revolutionary history. Leutze’s magnificent painting of Washington Crossing the Delaware was sold to Mssrs.

Goupil in 1851 for seven thousand dollars, almost as soon as he began painting it. In the same year, Goupil began accepting subscriptions at a reduced price for an engraved version, intended to be the largest line engraving ever printed. The image was so ubiquitous that Mark Twain commented sardonically upon its presence over countless mantelpieces in Life on the Mississippi. Despite this, it has become increasingly difficult to find impressions of this print, in any size, especially in good condition.

The March 1851 issue of “The International Monthly” wrote:

“...The picture reproduces the moment when the great general, ahead of the mass of the army, which had also just embarked, and part of which are passing off from the shore, and part already struggling with the driving ice, is steering to the opposite shore in a small boat, surrounded by eleven heroic figures, officers, farmers, soldiers, and boatmen.

The tall and majestic form of the man in whose hands at that hour lay the fate of millions, rises from the group, standing slightly bent, forward, with one foot on the bottom of the boat, the other on the forward bench. His mild yet serious and commanding glance seems seeking to pierce the mist of the farther shore and discover the enemy, while intimations of the future grandeur of his country rise upon his mind.”