What you are looking at
George Washington stands heroically in a crowded rowboat pushing through floating ice on a dark river at dawn, as his men row and fend off the ice.
Why it is famous
It shows the crossing of the Delaware River on the night of December 25 to 26, 1776, before the surprise attack on Trenton. Leutze, a German American, painted it in Düsseldorf in 1851. It is not accurate in every detail (the flag shown was adopted only in 1777), but it became one of the most famous images of American history.
How big is Washington Crossing the Delaware?
Washington Crossing the Delaware measures 378.5 × 647.7 cm (149.0 × 255.0 in), without its frame. Its surface is about 58 times the area of the Mona Lisa.
Compare it with other paintings
Where to see it
It hangs in the American Wing of the Met, and it is huge: almost 6.5 meters wide.
Museums move and lend paintings. Check the museum's website before you travel to see one work. See all famous paintings in New York.
Also at The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Frequently asked questions
Who painted Washington Crossing the Delaware?
Emanuel Leutze painted Washington Crossing the Delaware in 1851.
Where is Washington Crossing the Delaware?
Washington Crossing the Delaware is in The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, United States. (Gallery 760.)
How big is Washington Crossing the Delaware?
378.5 × 647.7 cm (149.0 × 255.0 in). Its surface is about 58 times the area of the Mona Lisa.
What is Washington Crossing the Delaware made with?
Oil on canvas.
Sources: The Met, "Washington Crossing the Delaware" (97.34); Wikidata Q509806; Wikipedia, "Washington Crossing the Delaware". Checked October 17, 2026. How we check.