Lexington Battle Monument
1853 or after National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C.
About this artwork
This folk art painting depicts the Lexington Battle Monument in Lexington, Massachusetts, surrounded by stylized trees, houses, and figures. It is characteristic of the American mid-19th-century naïve tradition, emphasizing simplified forms and local historical subjects.
Did you know?
The Lexington Battle Monument, erected in 1799, holds the distinction of being the first memorial raised to commemorate the American Revolutionary War. While the monument itself is a somber tribute to the 'embattled farmers,' the painting’s charming, stylized aesthetic reflects a popular 19th-century American desire to celebrate national identity through local landmarks. The artist, anonymous in the historical record, captures a serene, orderly view of the site that contrasts sharply with the violent history the monument represents.
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Lexington Battle Monument
American 19th Century, 1853 or after
