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Chimney Sweeps

1870s
Not on view
Dirty chimneys posed serious fire hazards. Any resident who neglected theirs risked a hefty fine (twenty-five dollars in 1808). Sweeps—wearing only undergarments and caps—wiggled their way up tight, crooked vents to the chimney tops (note the sweep working in the upper left) and then worked back down, continuously scraping and brushing the soot. The scores of sweeps who performed this brutal task were almost always black boys about ten years old who lived in miserable conditions. Here, Chappel also represents the Cherry Street shops of coppersmith John Wright, tinsmith J. Loyd, and plumber Warren Chardavoyne. The alderman George Buckmaster resided in the brick house at right.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Chimney Sweeps
  • Artist: William P. Chappel (American, 1801–1878)
  • Date: 1870s
  • Culture: American
  • Medium: Oil on slate paper
  • Dimensions: 6 1/16 x 9 5/16 in. (15.4 x 23.7 cm)
  • Credit Line: The Edward W. C. Arnold Collection of New York Prints, Maps, and Pictures, Bequest of Edward W. C. Arnold, 1954
  • Object Number: 54.90.505
  • Curatorial Department: The American Wing

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Fighting a Fire, William P. Chappel American, Oil on slate paper, American
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