Final answer:
The artist's main goal in creating paintings like Washington Crossing the Delaware was to glorify and commemorate General Washington and the American war effort. They aimed to present Washington as a heroic figure, often including symbolism to highlight the nation's ideals and aspirations.
Step-by-step explanation:
The artist's main purpose for creating the painting, especially those of George Washington and the events surrounding the American Revolution, was to commemorate and glorify significant figures and moments in American history. Paintings such as Washington Crossing the Delaware by Emanuel Leutze focus on glorifying General Washington and the American war effort. Other works, like those by artists John Trumbull and Charles Willson Peale, aim to portray Washington in a heroic and authoritative light, often including symbolic elements that serve to commend his military character, presidency, and the nation's future.
John Trumbull's inclusion of Washington's enslaved aide-de-camp, Billy Lee, acknowledges the existence of slavery and presents a complicated picture of American ideals versus reality. In contrast, summary depictions of war atrocities by artists like George Bellows were intended to elicit public support and outrage during different historical periods. Overall, the tendency was not to discourage recruits, show the army at work, or display the harsh conditions in a negative light; instead, the motive was to paint an inspiring narrative, contributing to the mythos of founding figures and pivotal events, thus answering option B - to show respect for Washington and the American war effort.