Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 9

William Thomas Smedley
Firefight

1893

$1,200
£911.43
€1,053
CA$1,681.84
A$1,882.30
CHF 982.42
MX$22,954.35
NOK 12,573.58
SEK 11,902.50
DKK 7,858.42
Shipping
Retrieving quote...
The 1stDibs Promise:
Authenticity Guarantee,
Money-Back Guarantee,
24-Hour Cancellation

About the Item

"Firefighting" is a dramatic monotone watercolor painting by William Thomas Smedley, depicting the intense efforts of firefighters battling a high-rise building fire. The unique L-shaped composition draws the viewer's eye from the scene of action below to the perilous situation above. At the base of the painting, firefighters are shown bravely combating the flames, with water hoses aimed at the raging inferno. Their determined expressions and coordinated efforts capture the urgency and danger of the moment. The monotone color palette accentuates the stark contrast between the dark smoke and the figures' silhouettes, enhancing the painting's emotional impact. In the upper section of the piece, a man is portrayed trapped within the building, peering out from a window amidst billowing smoke. His expression conveys a mix of fear and desperation, heightening the tension and drama of the scene. The L-shaped format ingeniously connects the ground-level heroics with the immediate peril faced by those inside the building. Smedley's "Firefighting" not only showcases his skill in capturing dynamic action and emotion. The painting's composition and use of monotone create a powerful visual narrative, making it a standout work in Smedley's repertoire. This painting comes signed middle right in excellent condition.
  • Creator:
  • Creation Year:
    1893
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 20 in (50.8 cm)Width: 12.25 in (31.12 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Period:
  • Condition:
  • Gallery Location:
    Fredericksburg, VA
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU2574214949342

More From This Seller

View All
Oil Abstract Cubist Painting
Located in Fredericksburg, VA
This cool-colored cubist painting by Edmund E. Niemann is a captivating exploration of form and color, embodying the essence of the Cubist movement. Through his unique artistic visio...
Category

Mid-20th Century Cubist Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Abstract Landscape titled "Harvest Moon"
Located in Fredericksburg, VA
"Harvest Moon" by Edmund E. Niemann is a striking example of Abstract Expressionism, a movement known for its emphasis on spontaneous, automatic, or subconscious creation. Niemann's ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Abstract Expressionist Abstract Paintings

Materials

Acrylic, Board

Watercolor River Landscape titled "Enjoying Calm Waters"
Located in Fredericksburg, VA
"Enjoying Calm Waters" is a captivating 19th-century American School watercolor landscape that epitomizes the beauty of a northern American scene. This exquisite piece showcases the ...
Category

19th Century Hudson River School Landscape Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Paper, Watercolor

Abstract Iceberg Scene
Located in Fredericksburg, VA
This abstract Alaskan glacier landscape, crafted by a talented Alaskan woman artist, is a striking exploration of nature's icy majesty through the lens of abstraction. The painting i...
Category

Mid-20th Century Abstract Abstract Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board

Hudson River School Watercolor Titled Fishing the Creek
By David Johnson
Located in Fredericksburg, VA
David Johnson was born in 1827 in New York City. Beginning in 1845, he studied for two years in the antique school of the National Academy of Design. His classmates and colleagues in...
Category

Late 19th Century Hudson River School Landscape Paintings

Materials

Paper, Watercolor

Nude Portrait "Waiting for Death"
By William Perkins Babcock
Located in Fredericksburg, VA
"Waiting for Death" is a haunting graphite drawing by American artist William Perkins Babcock, known for his symbolic and evocative works. In this powerful composition, Babcock explo...
Category

Mid-19th Century Nude Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Paper, Graphite

You May Also Like

Protest, Painting, Watercolor on Paper
By Toby Corbett
Located in Yardley, PA
The Dakota Access Pipeline protests, also known by the hashtag #NoDAPL, are grassroots movements that began in early 2016 in reaction to the approved construction of Energy Transfer ...
Category

2010s Contemporary Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Watercolor

Battle
Located in Genève, GE
Work on paper
Category

1950s Portrait Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Crayon

WAR, Mixed Media on Watercolor Paper
By Edward Zelinsky
Located in Yardley, PA
If I knew what the picture was going to be like- I wouldn't make it. Cindy Sherman said that. It's so true. I stay away from politics but now it's impossible. :: Mixed Media :: Conte...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Mixed Media

Materials

Mixed Media

Composition - Original Painting by Claude Guez - Mid-20th Century
By Claude Guez
Located in Roma, IT
Composition is an Original Tempera realized by Claude Guez in the early 20th century. The artwork is in good condition on a yellowed cardboard. No signa...
Category

Mid-20th Century Modern Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Tempera

UNTITLED SKETCHBOOK DRAWING #1
By William Thon
Located in Portland, ME
Thon, William (American, 1906-2000) UNTITLED SKETCHBOOK DRAWING #1. Ink on paper, not dated, but circa 1960s. Unsigned.The sketchbook identified by an Estate label on its cover. 5 x ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Landscape Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Ink

UNTITLED SKETCHBOOK DRAWING #5
By William Thon
Located in Portland, ME
Thon, William (American, 1906-2000) UNTITLED SKETCHBOOK DRAWING #5. Ink on paper, not dated, but circa 1960s. Unsigned.The sketchbook identified by an Estate label on its cover. 5 x ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Landscape Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Ink