1777 GEORGE WASHINGTON. The Battle of Brandywine by Impressionist, Christopher Willett.

An Homage to Homer Pyle's The Battle of Brandywine. By Christopher Willett.

The Battle of Brandywine, fought on September 11, 1777, was the largest single-day engagement of the American Revolutionary War. General George Washington commanded the American forces from horseback, as depicted here. A combination of faulty intelligence, thick morning fog, and an unexpectedly large number of British troops led to early casualties and a full collapse of the lines of Continental Army infantry. The patriot's capital of Philadelphia was left completely vulnerable, allowing British forces to capture the city shortly thereafter. Complete disaster was avoided only by Washington's leadership in orchestrating a strategic fighting retreat, by which he managed to prevent his army's total destruction and ensure the Continental Army survived to continue the fight for American liberty.

Christopher Willett (born 1959) is a celebrated contemporary American painter in the New Hope and Bucks County Impressionist tradition. A direct descendant of famed 19th-century folk artist Edward Hicks, Willett studied at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and honed a style known for textured brushwork, nostalgic depictions of rural Pennsylvania landscapes, historic villages and scenes, and snowy New York City streetscapes reminiscent of Guy Carleton Wiggins. His work draws strong comparisons to classic Bucks County Impressionists like Edward Redfield and George Sotter.

Paintings have sold for over $8,000 at auction and for significantly higher sums in Bucks County and New York galleries. This is an excellent example of some of his best historical subject matter, painted in anticipation the 250th Anniversary of America's Declaration of Independence. 

The work itself, oil on board, measures 8 x 10 inches, and 15 x 17 inches framed. It is in an excellent state of preservation.