Artwork
Burning of the Sidewheeler Henry Clay
Burning of the Sidewheeler Henry Clay is an oil painting. It dates from 1857 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
- Accession no.
- 54.90.223
- Credit line
- The Edward W. C. Arnold Collection of New York Prints, Maps, and Pictures, Bequest of Edward W. C. Arnold, 1954
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting captures the dramatic destruction of the sidewheel steamer Henry Clay, depicting a burning boat engulfed in flames on a river.
The painting captures the dramatic destruction of the sidewheel steamer Henry Clay, depicting a burning boat engulfed in flames on a river. Painted anonymously in 1857, the work belongs to the marine genre and is classified within the Metropolitan Museum of Art's American Wing. The composition centers on the conflagration of the vessel, with fire consuming the ship as it sits upon the water, conveying the peril and spectacle of mid-nineteenth-century river travel.
As a documentary-style marine scene, the painting records a specific maritime disaster while embodying the broader nineteenth-century fascination with steamboat catastrophes, which were a recurring hazard on American waterways during this era. The interplay of fire and river underscores the vulnerability of even advanced steam-powered vessels to sudden catastrophe.
History & Provenance
Created in 1857, this oil on canvas painting depicts the maritime disaster of the sidewheeler Henry Clay. The work is currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, specifically within its American Wing. While the piece measures 92.1 by 137.2 centimeters, the identity of the artist remains unknown, with the work attributed to an anonymous creator.
The available records establish the year of inception but provide no further details regarding the original commission, specific patronage, or the chain of ownership prior to its acquisition by the museum.
Overview
This oil on canvas painting, titled "Burning of the Sidewheeler Henry Clay," captures a dramatic maritime disaster. It depicts a paddle-wheel steamboat consumed by intense flames on a dark river under the night sky. The scene is filled with chaos, as sparks erupt and dense smoke billows upwards, while small figures are visible either attempting to escape the wreck or clinging to its remains.
Technique & Style
The artist employs a distinctive technique to render the destructive power of the fire. The glowing flames are depicted with a thick application of paint, creating a tangible sense of heat and intensity. This impasto technique gives the impression that the fire's radiant energy is almost palpable, enhancing the dramatic realism of the unfolding tragedy and drawing the viewer into the chaotic scene.
Artist & collection
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