The author of The Painter’s Fire, Zara Anishanslin, discussed her book at “Quaff and Quill,” an author series held at the Thomas Paine Cottage Museum in New Rochelle, NY. Hosted jointly by the Iona Institute for Thomas Paine Studies (ITPS) and the Huguenot & New Rochelle Historical Association (NRHA), “Quaff and Quill” invites all to explore the historical works of contemporary authors. Wine and chocolate are complimentary.
Released in July 2025, The Painter’s Fire delves into the lives of three unsung artists of the American Revolution: Patience Wright, Robert Edge Pine, and Prince Demah. Defying the prototypical image of a patriot, Wright and Pine resisted the monarchy well within London, England. In fact, Wright, wax sculptor and owner of a wax museum in London, operated a spy network from her museum that delivered intelligence to American leaders.
Alternatively, Pine and Demah produced several paintings that emboldened the American cause and challenged British hegemony in colonial America. A significant amount of these artists’ work is no longer intact, either destroyed or lost through history. Despite this unfortunate reality, Demah’s work can be viewed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in its America section.
The artwork discussed in The Painter’s Fire reveals that even five years into the war the public in England was divided on the issue of American independence, said Anishanslin. She also mentioned that the ideals of the Revolution are shared between patriots and the British alike. When examined critically, the Revolution reaffirms the principles of seminal documents such as the English Bill of Rights and the Magna Carta. Anishanslin believes that the artwork composed by Wright, Pine, and Demah is a manifestation of these overlooked commonalities.
Moreover, Anishanslin stated that the artwork of the Revolution is the epitome of historical mythology, or the glorification of historical figures in their portraits. The most well-known example of this is the painting “Washington Crossing the Delaware.”
Anishanslin hopes that Iona students “never think that history is only moved forward or accomplished by famous and important people.” She also hopes that students realize “everyday people, ordinary people, can use whatever talents they have to make a difference.” The ITPS and the NRHA will continue to invite authors to the Thomas Paine cottage for many nights of history, enlightenment, and free refreshments.
