"Tidings from Lexington" Engine Panel Painting
date: label: date made
content: ca 1849
name: label: maker
content: Betsch, M.
notes: label: Description
content: 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.
label: Description
content: This engine panel painting came from the Lexington Fire Engine Company No. 7 of New York, New York. The volunteer company was active from December 26, 1849 until September 18, 1865. The painting was signed by artist M. Betsch, and was completed around 1849. This painting depicts a rider (either Paul Revere or William Dawes) bringing news of the skirmish between the American militia and British troops at Lexington. The flag of the United States and the Gadsden (Don’t Tread on Me) flag frame the painting’s title at the bottom. The Lexington Fire Company used this painting to link their company to the patriotic deeds of their predecessors in the Revolutionary War. This painting and its companion piece (object 2005.0233.0302) would have adorned the sides of the company’s engines.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: used
content: United States: New York, New York City
setName: label: See more items in
content: Home and Community Life: Fire Fighting and Law Enforcement
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content: Engine Panel Paintings
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content: Cultures & Communities
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content: Work
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content: Firefighting Collection
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content: Art
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Gift of CIGNA Museum and Art Collection
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: 2005.0233.0301
label: accession number
content: 2005.0233
label: catalog number
content: 2005.0233.0301
objectType: label: Object Name
content: painting, engine panel
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: composite wood (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: oil paint (image material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 30 in x 17 1/2 in; 76.2 cm x 44.45 cm