Who created "The Signal Fire"?

The Signal Fire was created by Ralph Albert Blakelock in 1885-1890.

When was "The Signal Fire" created?

This artwork was created 1885-1890.

Is "The Signal Fire" in the public domain?

Yes, The Signal Fire is in the public domain and available for free download under CC0 license.

The Signal Fire

Ralph Albert Blakelock

1885-1890

Medium

Painting

Classification

Painting

Department

Smithsonian Collection

Museum

Smithsonian American Art Museum

Credit

Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the family of Grace Strong Twining

Accession Number

2001.74

Tags

knee lengthIndianmoonfirenight

About this artwork

Ralph Albert Blakelock traveled the American West between 1869 and 1872 to sketch landscapes and native peoples. After he returned, he continued to paint western images inspired from the trip. In The Signal Fire a glowing moon rises above an American Indian perched on the edge of a cliff. The fire, crackling away below him, sends waves of wispy smoke in the air, possibly signaling someone on the tip of the mountain in the distance.

About the Artist

Ralph Albert Blakelock · 1847–1919

Ralph Albert Blakelock was born on October 15, 1847, in New York City to English-born physician Ralph B. Blakelock and Caroline Olinarg Blakelock. Intending to follow in his father's footsteps, he enrolled at the Free Academy of the City of New York (now City College) in 1864 to study medicine but dropped out after two or three terms, rejecting formal education. Entirely self-taught, Blakelock hon...

The Signal Fire

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