Burning of Old South Church, Bath, Maine

John Hilling

National Gallery of Art

The painting depicts a burning building. The large white building is in the center of the painting, and it faces the right, with two rows of windows, a black roof, and a large tower with a clock. Bright orange and red flames pour out of the windows and doorways, and the fire stretches upwards towards the tower. Dark gray smoke and orange sparks surround the building, filling up the right side of the painting. On the dirt ground around the building, crowds of small people in dark coats and hats gather and point towards the fire. One person near us holds an American flag. Behind the burning building, smaller buildings and trees are visible, and the cloudy sky above appears lit by a crescent moon in a small circle of light blue.