Toy Fire Engine

c. 1942

Charles Henning

Associated Names
Charles Henning

Artist, American, active c. 1935

This is a painting of a steam engine resembling a horse-drawn carriage being pulled by two galloping horses. The steam engine is an intricately designed metallic contraption with various levers, wheels, and cylindrical and dome-shaped components. The engine's prominent wheels are painted in a vivid red hue. The two horses are dynamically depicted as they gallop energetically, their harnesses stretching taut as they pull the carriage. The artist has captured the muscular form and detail of the horses, imbuing them with a sense of power and motion. The color palette is primarily composed of earthy tones for the horses and metallic grays and reds for the engine.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    watercolor, pen and ink, and graphite on paper

  • Credit Line

    Index of American Design

  • Dimensions

    overall: 34.7 x 55.4 cm (13 11/16 x 21 13/16 in.)
    Original IAD Object: 19 3/4" long; 4 1/2" wide; 6 7/8" high

  • Accession Number

    1943.8.16910


Artwork history & notes

Bibliography

1970

  • Hornung, Clarence P., Treasury of American Design, New York: 1970, p. 626, no. 2232.

Inscriptions

lower left in graphite: C. Henning

Wikidata ID

Q64538689

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