Portrait, "Benjamin Franklin, The Fireman"
date: label: Date made
content: ca 1850
name: label: depicted
content: Franklin, Benjamin
label: referenced
content: Union Fire Company
label: artist
content: Wright, Charles Washington
label: maker
content: Wright, Charles Washington
notes: label: Description
content: Benjamin Franklin organized the Union Fire Company in Philadelphia in 1736. Over 100 years later, a fire company may have commissioned this painting to adorn a firehouse and recognize Franklin's contribution to the city's volunteer fire service. The artist depicted Franklin in a chief's work helmet and coat worn by firemen fifty years after Franklin's death. Work and ceremonial uniforms, as well as engines and equipment, were decorated with patriotic motifs that evoked the sense of protecting the well-being of the community and the nation. Firefighting incorporated the ideals of citizenship, heroism, bravery, competition, and political and charitable activities.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: association
content: United States: Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
topic: label: Subject
content: Fire Fighting
setName: label: See more items in
content: Home and Community Life: Fire Fighting and Law Enforcement
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: 2005.0233.0001
label: accession number
content: 2005.0233
label: catalog number
content: 2005.0233.0001
objectType: label: Object Name
content: Painting
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: oil on canvas (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 38 3/4 in x 34 in; 98.425 cm x 86.36 cm