Westward the Course of Empire Takes Its Way
painting by Leutze
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Emanuel Gottlieb Leutze: Westward the Course of Empire Takes Its Way
Westward the Course of Empire Takes Its Way, mural by Emanuel Gottlieb Leutze, 1860; in the United States Capitol, Washington, D.C.
Emanuel Leutze's painting, Westward the Course of Empire Takes Its Way, also known as "Westward Ho," was commissioned by the U.S. Congress and depicts the settlement of the American West. This theme aligns with the concept of Manifest Destiny, the belief that the United States was destined to expand across the North American continent. The painting visually represents this westward expansion, a significant aspect of American history and identity.12
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