The Burning of Old South Church in Bath, Maine

Maker John Hilling (American, 1822 - 1894)

Collections

Jonathan and Karin Fielding Collection

ClassificationsPAINTINGS

Dateca. 1854

Mediumoil on canvas

Dimensionsframe: 21 1/2 x 27 3/8 x 2 1/8 in. (54.6 x 69.5 x 5.4 cm.) frame opening: 17 1/2 × 23 1/2 in. (44.5 × 59.7 cm.)

DescriptionTwo paintings depicting the Old South church, one as it was previous to the fire, and the other as it was at the time of the fire; framed separately; attributed to artist John Hilling.

Credit LineJonathan and Karin Fielding Collection

Status

On view

Label TextAnti-immigrant sentiment inflamed the United States during the 1850s. The animus was primarily directed toward Irish Catholics, who were migrating in large numbers. On the evening of July 6, 1854, a rabble-rouser by the name of Brown incited a crowd of anti-Catholic sympathizers in Bath, Maine. They grew so agitated that they broke into Old South Church, which had been recently converted from a Congregationalist church to a Catholic one, and set it on fire. The first painting shows the start of the mob's destruction, with objects, being tossed from windows, and the second depicts the structure alight, with a crowd looking on.

Object numberL2015.41.177.2