Artwork
Old Ferry Stairs
Old Ferry Stairs is an oil painting by the Impressionist artist William P. Chappel. It dates from 1874 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. William P.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
As a work classified within the landscape genre, the piece represents the functional infrastructure of river transport as it existed in the nineteenth century.
William P. Chappel's 1874 oil painting Old Ferry Stairs presents a scene focused on a riverside dock area. The composition depicts specific elements including a boat, a carriage, and the ferry stairs themselves, capturing a moment of transit and daily activity at the waterfront. As a work classified within the landscape genre, the piece represents the functional infrastructure of river transport as it existed in the nineteenth century.
The inclusion of both the vessel and the land vehicle suggests the intersection of different modes of travel at this specific location.
Technique & Style
The work is executed in oil on slate paper, an unusual support for oil painting that lends the surface a dark, smooth ground. Chappel’s handling is precise and tightly controlled, with the figures and vessels along the dock crisply defined. The composition organizes the scene along a low horizon, anchoring attention on the ferry and carriage at the center while the distant river and sky recede in muted blues and grays.
History & Provenance
The painting Old Ferry Stairs was created by William P. Chappel in 1874. Executed in oil on slate paper, the work measures 15.4 cm in height and 23.2 cm in width. It is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is catalogued within The American Wing under accession number 1975.1.211.
The composition depicts a scene featuring a boat, a carriage, and a dock. No specific exhibition dates are detailed in the provided sources.
Overview
William P. Chappel's "Old Ferry Stairs," created around 1874, is an oil landscape rendered on slate paper. The work captures a tranquil, everyday scene at a riverside dock, depicting the quiet activity of a low-tide moment. It features a horse-drawn carriage waiting on cobblestones above, while wooden stairs descend to a muddy bank where two rowboats rest. This piece offers a glimpse into 19th-century American life.
Context
As part of the American Wing collection, "Old Ferry Stairs" reflects a common artistic interest in depicting local landscapes and quotidian scenes during the late 19th century in the United States. Artists often turned to familiar subjects like docks, boats, and carriages to capture the character of American life and its evolving infrastructure. This work contributes to a visual record of the era's transportation and riverside activities.
Artist & collection
