Artistic Reactions to Jacksonian Democracy

• American artist George Caleb Bingham (1811-1879) lived in the Missouri Territory where he portrayed its frontier scenes in his paintings.

• He was inspired by the style known as “genre painting” in which an artist creates realistic depictions of everyday life (form of Romanticism Art)

• Bingham was a member of the Whig Party and his politics came together in a series of paintings in the 1850s depicting a local election in Missouri.

Jacksonian PoliticsGeorge Caleb Bingham’s

Election Series

"Country Politician" by George Caleb Bingham  1849

"County Election" by George Caleb Bingham  1851

"Canvassing for a Vote" by George Caleb Bingham  1852

"Stump Speaking" by George Caleb Bingham  1854

"Verdict of the People" by George Caleb Bingham  1855

Jacksonian Democracy George Caleb Bingham’s

Views on The Common Man

Fur Traders Descending the Missouri George Caleb Bingham 1845

Ferrymen Playing Cards, George Caleb Bingham 1847

Lighter Relieving the Steamboat Aground George Caleb Bingham 1847

The Wood-Boat George Caleb Bingham 1850

The Jolly Flatboatmen in Port George Caleb Bingham 1857