An Ecclesiastic Building in Flames with Demons Above

Arthur Frederick Payne

Associated Names
Arthur Frederick Payne

Artist, British, 1831 - active 1880s

The image depicts a fiery scene with a burning structure dominating the upper right section. The horizon is faint, with storm clouds above. An ethereal figure is in the clouds to the left. There are dynamic brushstrokes showing movement in the smoke and flames. The color palette includes warm and cool tones, with figures fleeing below the burning building towards the right. Vegetation adds a contrast to the burning architecture.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    watercolor over graphite on wove paper

  • Credit Line

    Gift of William B. O'Neal

  • Dimensions

    overall: 19.6 x 14.5 cm (7 11/16 x 5 11/16 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1995.52.132

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

(Bury Street Gallery [William Drummond], London); purchased by William B. O'Neal, Charlottesville, VA, 1985-1994; gift to NGA, 1995.

Associated Names

Exhibition History

1988

  • The Imprints of Gloomth: The Gothic Novel in England, 1765-1830, Alderman Library, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, 1988.

Inscriptions

by later hand, center verso in graphite: fm / Abbney des [Utag]es [in] [Fire]

Wikidata ID

Q64536578

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