by Michael Boss
Casein on Rag Board
13.5" X 22.5"
From the Collection of Carol Hobbs, WaKeeney, Kansas
After painting Fateful Voyage, it seemed appropriate to paint the utter devastation of the historic Mississippi riverboat. In the painting, there is action, but I chose the less is better theory.
When the boilers exploded, huge sections of the cabins and the small pilot house were blown to pieces. Within a very short time, the tall smokestacks toppled. As the fire burned toward the boat's stern, both massive paddleboxes broke from the sides and fell into the water.
In 2003, Bill Warrick of Indiana produced a video for Herron Rail Video in Tampa, Florida titled "Iron Crowns and Paddlewheels". Both paintings of the Sultana were used in his production.