"Fame" Engine Panel Painting
date: label: date made
content: ca 1834
name: label: maker
content: Brewer, John S.
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 likely belonged to the Globe Engine Company No. 30 of Kensington, Philadelphia, which was founded in 1820. Originally organized as a hand engine company, it acquired a steam fire engine in 1863 and operated as the Globe Steam Fire Engine Company of Kensington until 1871 when Philadelphia’s paid firefighting department was established. The painting is attributed to John S. Brewer and dated to around 1834. The painting depicts the mythical figure of Fame, who would repeat what she heard, first in a whisper but growing louder and louder until all of heaven and earth could hear what she said. Here, Fame is extolling the virtues and bravery of the Globe Engine Company. This painting and its companion piece (object 2005.0233.0312) would have adorned either side of the company’s engine.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
topic: label: classified
content: Fire Fighting
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: 2005.0233.0313
label: accession number
content: 2005.0233
label: catalog number
content: 2005.0233.0313
objectType: label: Object Name
content: painting, engine panel
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: wood (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: oil paint (image material)
label: Measurements
content: with frame: 29 1/4 in x 21 1/4 in; 74.295 cm x 53.975 cm
label: Measurements
content: without frame: 20 1/2 in x 14 in; 52.07 cm x 35.56 cm