About the Artist
George Caleb Bingham (1811-1879) was a Missouri artist, a painter of everyday life west of the Mississippi. In 1851, he used his experience as a Missouri politician to make a painting he called The County Election.
After Bingham completed the series of drawings, he transferred the figures on the canvas, grouping them to tell the story of the election.
George Caleb Bingham (1811-1879) was a Missouri artist, a painter of everyday life west of the Mississippi. In 1851, he used his experience as a Missouri politician to make a painting he called The County Election.
A Series of Drawings
Before he began this painting, Bingham sketched several models in various poses. Some of these drawings can be seen in the movie to your right.
After Bingham completed the series of drawings, he transferred the figures on the canvas, grouping them to tell the story of the election.
Creating the Painting
After he had all the drawings in place, Bingham painted each figure and filled in the other details of the scene.
See if you can match the people in Bingham's
drawings to those in the final work of art.
drawings to those in the final work of art.
Click on the Painting to Play
Educational materials made
possible by the generosity of
possible by the generosity of
The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts thanks the Saint Louis Art Museum for the loan of this George Caleb Bingham interactive Web component.