EMBARKATION OF THE PILGRIMS

The Embarkation of the Pilgrims

The Embarkation of the Pilgrims

Background & Introduction

Painter and teacher Robert Weir was born in New York City, the son of Robert Walter Weir, shipping merchant, and Mary Catherine Brinckley. He began a career in business, but soon left it to become an artist. He was largely self-taught, having had only a few lessons with the heraldic painter Robert Cooke. He studied in Italy from 1824 to 1827. Weir became a full academician at the National Academy of Design in 1831 and taught there in the 1830s.

Weir married Louisa Ferguson in 1829 and had nine children. After her death in 1845, he married Susan Martha Bayard, with whom he had seven children. Two of his sons, John Ferguson Weir and Julian Alden Weir, became artists.

In 1834, Weir became the drawing instructor at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. His students included James McNeill Whistler, Robert E. Lee, and Ulysses S. Grant . Although he was one of America's most illustrious history painters, Weir was more important as a teacher. His most famous work, Embarkation of the Pilgrims at Delft, Holland, July 22nd, 1620 (1836-1843), hang in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda.

In 1876, Weir retired from West Point and moved to Hoboken, which inspired his Hudson River from Hoboken (1878). In 1880, Weir moved to New York City, where he died.

Discussion and Analysis

Pilgrims were protesters on to the podium of the vessel Speedwell prior to their departure for the New World from Delft Harbor, Holland, and 22 July 1620 showed. William Brewster, the Bible, and pastor John Robinson lead Governor Carver, William Bradford, and Miles Standish and keep their families in prayer. The advantage of women and children suggests the importance of family in the community. On the left side, of the painting a rainbow, which symbolizes hope and divine protection. Wehr (1803-1890) had studied art in Italy and art lessons at the Military Academy at West Point.

The group of people appears too meditative of what they have been doing for a divine and sacred cause of protection through the travel. They always started their campaign with the slogan “God is with us”; these words were also written on the corner of the sail. The embarkation of the pilgrims is a famous elaboration of Robert Weir; the painting clearly depicts the way of the Mayflower followed by the pilgrims. The very similar view was also defined by an artist Samuel F.B. Morse. The painting has been repaired, and restored various times. In addition, the painting was completely damaged due to the falling of a beam while a construction project. The art department asked Robert Weir to repair the painting accordingly. In this regard, the painting was repaired, cleaned and restored.

The smaller version of the painting was painted by Weir in the year 1857, which is present in the Museum of art named as Brooklyn. In the painting, Robert Walter made many changes, which finally gave him much fame due to enlargement of the pilgrims in the altered painting; it gained attention of more people as well. The painting was a very popular ...