painting of George Caleb Bingham

Partisan Paintings: George Caleb Bingham and the Election of 1844

Presented By
Joan Stack

American expansionism was a central issue in the 1844 presidential election, the Democratic Party supporting the annexation of Texas and the Whigs adopting an anti-expansion platform. Surprisingly, dark-horse Democratic nominee James K. Polk defeated Whig frontrunner Henry Clay to become the 11th U.S. president.

Missouri artist and politician George Caleb Bingham, a Clay supporter, feared Polk’s expansionist ambitions and pro-war policies. Art historian Joan Stack explores how his two 1845 paintings, The Concealed Enemy and Fur Traders Descending the Missouri, may have reflected that anxiety as Polk was beginning his first year in office.

Stack has served as curator of art collections at the State Historical Society of Missouri since 2006, focusing her study on Bingham, Thomas Hart Benton, and art in the popular culture.

Listen
Upcoming in this series:
27
Jul
Men of No Reputation: Robert Boatright, the Buckfo...
Central Library |
2:00pm
Watch or Listen to Past Events in this Series:
Police officers in black and white
Sunday, May 6, 2018 2:00pm
In a discussion of his new book Prohibition in Kansas City, Missouri: Highballs, Spooners & Crooked Dice, local historian and blogger John Simonson recalls our c...
19
Apr
Quindaro Underground Railroad: A Unique Ethnic Un...
Central Library |
4:00pm
12
Aug
Legacy: Spirit of the Black Panthers
Central Library |
2:00pm
26
Jan
The Overland Trails and the Founding of Independen...
Central Library |
2:00pm
15
Jul
Jesse James and the Movies
Central Library |
2:00pm
painting of George Caleb Bingham

Partisan Paintings: George Caleb Bingham and the Election of 1844

Date & Location
-
In Person
Details
Adults