An artwork on Galleree from The Art Institute of Chicago.
About the artwork
The Biglin Brothers Turning the Stake1873
Thomas Eakins
Eakins's painting celebrates athletic teamwork while commemorating an actual event, a famous rowing race that took place on the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia during May 1872. Throngs of spectators line the riverbank and watch as Barney and John Biglin negotiate the tricky turn around a stake marking the halfway point in the contest. Their competitors, seen in the middle distance at the right, lag behind. The Biglin brothers won the race, cementing their status as the most celebrated oarsmen of the era. Trained in the United States and France, Eakins spent almost his entire artistic career in his hometown of Philadelphia. He is renowned for the unsentimental realism in his paintings, whose compositions he developed through painstakingly prepared figure and perspective drawings.
Rowing was among the most popular spectator sports in the U.S. during the 1870s.
oil on canvas
Framed: 117 x 167 x 6.5 cm (46 1/16 x 65 3/4 x 2 9/16 in.); Unframed: 101.3 x 151.4 cm (39 7/8 x 59 5/8 in.)
Hinman B. Hurlbut Collection
On a warm May day in 1872, the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia was alive with excitement. The sun glittered across the water, reflecting the jubilant faces of throngs of spectators gathered on the riverbank, their voices a harmonious chorus of cheers and encouragement. Among them, the buzz of anticipation was palpable as they focused on the race unfolding before their eyes.
In the heart of the action were the Biglin brothers, Barney and John, their swift, synchronized movements cutting through the water like blades, muscles tense and focused. Just ahead, a stake marked the halfway point of the grueling rowing contest, a critical turn that would test their skill and teamwork. The air was thick with tension as they approached the stake, their oars dipping in unison, the rhythm echoing the heartbeat of the crowd.
Meanwhile, their competitors strained in the middle distance, their boats appearing smaller and slower, trailing behind the Biglin brothers. The cheers of the audience grew louder, buoyed by the sight of what would soon be a celebrated victory. Racing toward their destiny, the brothers paddled with a shared resolve, every stroke a testament to their training and commitment.
This very moment, immortalized in a painting by Thomas Eakins, captures not just a contest of speed but the essence of athletic teamwork. Eakins himself knew the river and its banks well; Philadelphia was not just his home but the canvas of his artistic journey. He spent years meticulously mastering the craft, drawing figures with unsentimental realism that drew viewers closer into each scene. Through painstaking sketches and preparations, he transformed fleeting moments of life and athletic prowess into enduring art.
The Biglin brothers eventually emerged victorious, solidifying their status as the most celebrated oarsmen of their time. Their triumph was not merely in winning the race but in inspiring every heart that witnessed their grit and determination. Eakins's painting serves as a timeless reminder of that day on the Schuylkill River—a story of ambition, camaraderie, and the indomitable spirit of humanity forever captured in a moment of victory.
About the artist
Creating transformative experiences through art “for the benefit of all the people forever.”The Cleveland Museum of Art is renowned for the quality and breadth of its collection, which includes more than 66,500 artworks and spans 6,000 years of achievement in the arts. The artworks shared on this platform are sourced from the museum's Open Access data under the CC0 license. No endorsement is implied.Address: 11150 East Boulevard, Cleveland, OH, USA 44106
The best place to view The Art Institute of Chicago‘s artwork is on Galleree. Hear the story behind this work, interact with the image, discuss with people, curate your own playlists, and discover so much more from great artists and institutions alike.