Washington and Lafayette at the Battle of Brandywine

Junius Brutus Stearns' painting Washington and Lafayette at the Battle of Brandywine depicts an important battle in the Revolutionary War for the control of Philadelphia, the then-capital of the United States. Being less knowledgeable about the surrounding area, General Washington was bested by the British General Howe who was able to ford the Brandywine River at a more northern location unbeknownst to Washington and win the battle. This victory led to the eventual British occupation of Philadelphia. The Battle of the Brandywine was also the first battle in which the Marquis de Lafayette saw combat and he was wounded in the leg, as depicted in the present work.