Benjamin Tanner

American, 1775 - 1848

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This is a painting of a theater fire. The image depicts a scene of chaos and flames as a building labeled as a theater is engulfed in fire. The fire consumes the structure, with large flames and smoke billowing into the sky. The foreground of the image shows a crowd amidst the blaze. The composition and style suggest an approach to capturing catastrophic events with detailed figures and lighting. This is in the style of historical engravings or lithographs from the early 19th century, often used to document significant events of the time.
Benjamin Tanner, The Burning of the Theatre in Richmond, Virginia, 1812, hand-colored etching and aquatint on wove paper mounted to heavy wove paper, Corcoran Collection (Museum Purchase, Mary E. Maxwell Fund), 2015.19.875

The Burning of the Theatre in Richmond, Virginia

Benjamin Tanner · 1812 · hand-colored etching and aquatint on wove paper mounted to heavy wove paper ·  Accession ID  2015.19.875