1882

An Old Fireplace

American, 1858 - 1908

Charles Frederic Ulrich enjoyed an impressive reputation during the mid-1880s that was largely based on his small-scale genre scenes, including this one. An Old Fire-Place is believed to depict Ephrata Cloister, a historic German Anabaptist hermitage located west of Philadelphia that was founded in 1732. Ulrich's ascetic interior reflects the long history of Ephrata---reinforced by the sitter's old age and modest dress---but clearly represents life there during his own time with its original hearth converted into a simple kitchen.