"Washington at Yorktown" Engine Panel Painting

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.

Currently not on view