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Old Ferry Stairs

1870s
Not on view
Despite its title, this scene depicts the stairs for the New Ferry (est. 1795) that conveyed people, goods, and even livestock to and from Brooklyn. A clue to the site’s identity is the appearance at the far right of the two Catherine Market buildings that open onto Front Street. In the early 1800s, the environs of the market also served as a space for enslaved blacks from around the region to compete in dances or "break-downs" atop boards called "shingles" in exchange for money or food. The choreography of these performances would influence later forms of African American dance.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Old Ferry Stairs
  • Artist: William P. Chappel (American, 1801–1878)
  • Date: 1870s
  • Culture: American
  • Medium: Oil on slate paper
  • Dimensions: 6 1/16 x 9 1/8 in. (15.4 x 23.2 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: 54.90.491
  • Curatorial Department: The American Wing

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The Boot Black, William P. Chappel American, Oil on slate paper, American
The Boot Black
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Tea Party, William P. Chappel American, Oil on slate paper, American
Tea Party
William P. Chappel
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Fighting a Fire, William P. Chappel American, Oil on slate paper, American
Fighting a Fire
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Infant Funeral Procession, William P. Chappel American, Oil on slate paper, American
Infant Funeral Procession
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Bull's Head Tavern, William P. Chappel American, Oil on slate paper, American
Bull's Head Tavern
William P. Chappel
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