The artwork titled “Awful conflagration of the steam boat Lexington in Long Island Sound on Monday eveg., Jany. 13th 1840” was created by Currier and Ives in 1840. This piece belongs to the art movement known as Romanticism and is categorized under the genre of marina.
The artwork vividly depicts a catastrophic scene where the steam boat Lexington is engulfed in a fierce blaze. Large plumes of orange and yellow flames and smoke dominate the scene, illustrating the intensity of the fire. The dark sky contrasts with the fiery explosion, enhancing the drama of the night-time disaster. In the turbulent water surrounding the burning vessel, numerous figures can be seen struggling in small boats and floating debris, attempting to escape the calamity. The overall atmosphere is chaotic and tragic, reflecting the horrific event where over 100 people perished. The artwork effectively captures the urgency and despair of the moment, emphasizing the peril at sea and the human efforts to survive the disaster.
