Landing of the Pilgrims by Sargent

Landing of the Pilgrims.
By Henry Sargent (1770-1845).
Painted in America, 1818-1822.
Material : Oil on canvas.

This landing scene shows Samoset greeting the Pilgrims as they landed. Actually, the Natives waited three months before contacting the Pilgrims.
Boston artist Henry Sargent first painted the Pilgrims landing around 1815. The painting was exhibited to great acclaim at an exhibition in New York. Soon after, the painting was damaged. Sargent painted this new version between 1818 and 1822.
The painting was loaned to Pilgrim Hall Museum for the 1824 celebration of Forefathers Day (and the opening of the Hall). Historian and curator James Thacher wrote

The procession returned from the meeting house to the hall, where an excellent dinner was provided ... the day closed with a splendid and fully attended ball. The admirable picture of the landing of the Fathers, by Col. Sargent, was by its author placed in the Pilgrim Hall at this celebration.

In 1835, Sargent gave the painting to the Pilgrim Society.