Riding in a Model T Painting

Riding in a Model T is part of Paula McHugh’s series of paintings inspired by the titles of American and Celtic fiddle tunes and folk songs. This painting depicts a family driving down country road in an old Ford Model T. Recorded by the Dixie Ramblers in 1937, this song celebrated the first “horseless carriage” built for the common man and woman by an industrial genius named Henry Ford. Mr. Ford not only manufactured 15 million Model-Ts between the years 1908 and 1927, an automobile that could run on either gasoline or hemp-based fuel, but he also led a revival in old-time square dancing and fiddling. In fact, he was so fond of the fiddle that he provided the prize money for several fiddle contests and even purchased two violins made by Italian master Antonio Stradivari.