Progress (The Advance of Civilization)

Progress (The Advance of Civilization) is a painting by Asher B. Durand, one of the most important works of American art, that was in private hands since its creation in 1853.[1][2] In 2018, it was gifted to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA) in Richmond, Virginia, by an anonymous donor, becoming the highest valued gift of a single work of art in VMFA's history.[1] The painting is a masterpiece that dramatizes the meeting of nature and civilization, representing the idea of Manifest Destiny and the clash of industrial expansion and nature, as well as Native American culture.[1][3]

Progress (The Advance of Civilization)
Artist	Asher Brown Durand
Year	1853
Medium	Oil on canvas
Dimensions	121.9 cm × 182.9 cm (48 in × 72 in)
Location	Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Richmond, Virginia

The painting depicts Native Americans standing to the left of trees facing a stream, while a small town, a steam-producing locomotive, and livestock follow the path of telegraph poles on the right.[1] This highlights the sacrifices made by Native Americans in the name of "progress".[4]

The painting was commissioned by Charles Gould, a financier, industrialist, and collector in the 19th century.[1] Despite his involvement in the railroad industry, Gould did not control the painting's subject matter or style.[1] The painting was held in private collections, including that of Jack Warner, and reportedly an unidentified buyer paid $40 million for it in 2011, before being anonymously gifted to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in 2018.[1]