Artwork
The Cathedrals of Art
The Cathedrals of Art is an oil painting by the Contemporary Realist artist Florine Stettheimer. It dates from 1942 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
At the center, Francis Henry Taylor, then director of the Met, leads a rosy infant called Baby Art up a carpeted staircase, flanked by miniature versions of the Museum of Modern Art and the Whitney. Florine Stettheimer painted it in 1942 as the final panel of her four-part Cathedrals series, compressing the New York art world into one fantastical stage set of pastel pink.
Overview
Florine Stettheimer's oil painting, The Cathedrals of Art, completed in 1942, serves as the concluding piece in her four-part "Cathedral" series.
Florine Stettheimer's oil painting, The Cathedrals of Art, completed in 1942, serves as the concluding piece in her four-part "Cathedral" series. This work presents a whimsical yet incisive portrayal of the New York art establishment, staging a vibrant gathering of prominent figures from the city's museum and gallery scene. The composition playfully merges the Metropolitan Museum of Art with elements of the Museum of Modern Art and the Whitney Museum, functioning as both an homage and a critique of these cultural institutions.
Subject & Meaning
The painting's central focus is the grand staircase of the Metropolitan Museum, where its director, Francis Henry Taylor, guides a rosy infant labeled "Baby Art." Miniature representations of MoMA and the Whitney Museum flank this scene, each overseen by their respective directors, Alfred Barr and Juliana Force. Stettheimer populates the canvas with caricatures of contemporary art world personalities, including critics, dealers, and photographers, offering a satirical yet affectionate commentary on the era's cultural landscape. The artist herself appears in the lower right.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil on canvas, The Cathedrals of Art exemplifies Stettheimer's distinctive faux-naïve aesthetic. The painting features a vibrant palette, often dominated by pastel pinks, alongside intricate decorative patterns. Its theatrical arrangement and cinematic scope create a dynamic visual narrative.
Measuring 60 1/4 by 50 1/4 inches, the work's scale contributes to its monumental presence, characteristic of the series it concludes.
History & Provenance
Completed in 1942, this painting was potentially still being refined by Stettheimer until shortly before her death in 1944, leading some scholars to suggest it retains a subtle, unfinished quality. This aspect lends an additional layer of pathos to its critical yet celebratory depiction of the art institutions. The work was later donated to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1953 by the artist's sister, Ettie Stettheimer, where it is now part of the permanent collection under accession number 53.24.1.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Florine Stettheimer (August 19, 1871 – May 11, 1944) was an American modernist painter, feminist, theatrical designer, poet, and salonnière.
