George Caleb Bingham

George Caleb Bingham (1811-1879) was an American artist who depicted frontier life. Although not technically as skilled as many other American painters, Bingham's work remains a valuable documentation of American history as well as being perfectly suited to its subjects. His was a truly American (as opposed to Euro-American) art. The question remains as to whether Bingham's paintings were true-to-life reportage of the American frontier, or whether they were mythologized depictions.

More internet resources on Bingham are here, here, and here.

Captured by Indians (1848)

 Daniel Boone Escorting Settlers through Cumberland Gap (1851-52)

[more about this painting] [still more (scroll down to "Figure 9")]

 Family Life on the Frontier (1845)

 Fishing on the Mississippi (1851-52)

 Jolly Flatboatmen in Port (1857)

 Martial Law (or General Order No. 11) (1868)

[what was General Order No. 11? find out here]

[more about this painting]

Raftsmen Playing Cards (1847)

 Stump Speaking (1853-54)

[article about this painting]

 The County Election (1852)

[article about this painting]

 The Dull Story (1843)

 The Squatters (1850)

 The Verdict of the People (1854-55)

Washington Crossing the Delaware (1856-71)

It's interesting to compare Bingham's depiction of Washingon crossing the Delaware with Emanuel Gottlieb Leutze's more famous (and dramatic) version.