American Art Collaborative

Paul Manship’s relief is one of several the sculptor created to commemorate episodes from the Revolutionary War (see also 1966.47.141, 1966.47.143, 1966.47.144, and 1966.47.145). Manship’s papers indicate that these reliefs were designed for a projected “Hall of History,” but research has not revealed where or when that project was to appear. Manship depicted George Washington speaking to his officers at Newburgh, New York, a small town on the Hudson River where the general kept his headquarters for two years. The scene commemorates Washington’s address to his men on the day the Continental army disbanded. Manship included an excerpt from the address, which reads “Had this day been wanting the World had never seen the last stage of perfection.