Object Details
- unknown
- Description (Brief)
- In the nineteenth century, volunteer fire companies often commissioned paintings to decorate their hand-pumped fire engines for parades, competitions, and community events. Sometimes framed with elaborate carvings, they adorned the tall air chamber located at the middle or rear of a pumper. The paintings would often feature patriotic, heroic, or allegorical images to associate the volunteer companies with these lofty ideals.
- This panel is probably not an authentic engine panel. It purports to be painted by Charles Peale Polk in 1805, but paint analysis dates it around early 20th century. The painting is a copy of John Trumbull's painting "The Surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown." This painting’s companion piece can be seen in object 2005.0233.0318. Panel paintings of Washington would have had significance to volunteer company’s named after Washington, but because of this paintings late date, it is unlikely that it was ever in use as an engine panel in an active volunteer company.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Credit Line
- Gift of CIGNA Museum and Art Collection
- after 1871
- ID Number
- 2005.0233.0319
- accession number
- 2005.0233
- catalog number
- 2005.0233.0319
- Object Name
- painting, engine panel
- Physical Description
- wood (overall material)
- oil paint (image material)
- Measurements
- overall: 30 1/2 in x 20 in; 77.47 cm x 50.8 cm
- See more items in
- Home and Community Life: Fire Fighting and Law Enforcement
- National Museum of American History
- classified
- Fire Fighting
- Record ID
- nmah_1341267
- GUID (Link to Original Record)
- https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746ac-6818-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa
