Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego
1941
Black-and-white lithograph
10" x 13" plate
Study in charcoal
Sheet 18 1/2” x 23 ½”
Exhibited in New York in 1942, this print was based on the song’s original theme—the struggle to stay true to one’s faith in God. Rose labored over her treatment in multiple studies and listed the lithograph for inclusion in her book.
The composition includes three singers, scaled-down versions of her earlier work Twilight Quartet. Positioned centrally, the singers stand together in a small, exposed cabin as they sing in joy, oblivious to the flames engulfing them. The men receive celestial assistance in the form of firemen swooping down from heaven to extinguish the flames. One is carrying a ladder, several have fire hoses, and there is also a horse-drawn fire wagon manned by a team of angels protected by firefighting helmets. Anchored to the unmistakable flat landscape of the Eastern Shore, the congregation points up to the miracle of angels, while King Nebuchadnezzar raises his hands in astonishment. Described by a New York City art critic as “surreal” and “crowded with meanings,” this work represents the Copperville community and artist collaborating at their most innovative and imaginative.
