St. Patrick's Cathedral, Interior
In 1853, Archbishop John Joseph Hughes of the Archdiocese of New York commissioned the American architect James Renwick, Jr., with his firm’s partner William Rodrigue (who was Hughes's brother-in-law), to design New York City’s St. Patrick’s Cathedral to replace the Archdiocese’s earlier, smaller building in lower Manhattan. Hughes was instrumental in fundraising for the new building. Construction started in 1858 on what was then a less populated site north of the city’s main residential and business areas. During the American Civil War in the 1860s, construction was interrupted; the cathedral opened in May 1879--a stunning structure clad in marble, albeit without spires due to a lack of funding. Stylistically, it incorporated German, French and English Gothic elements. In the 1880s, the archbishop's house and rectory were completed -- also designed by Renwick; the spires were added in 1888.
This dark interior view shows the nave looking towards the altar; the clerestory and Gothic vaulted ceiling occupies the top of the print. Barely visible in the dim shadows are some worshippers: a woman wearing a hat kneels between two children in the central aisle; a couple stands behind the pews at right, while a nun kneels in prayer behind the pews at left. The small remarque portrait in the bottom margin is of Archbishop Hughes (born Ireland, 1797–1864), who served as the first Archbishop of the Archdiocese of New York from 1850 until his death. His coat of arms (with Latin motto "CLAUDIT ET APERIT" [Closes and Opens] is etched in the margin beneath the interior scene, lower center. Although Archbishop Hughes did not live to see the grand new St. Patrick's cathedral built, his key role in its realization is recognized by this print, executed just after the spires were completed.
This dark interior view shows the nave looking towards the altar; the clerestory and Gothic vaulted ceiling occupies the top of the print. Barely visible in the dim shadows are some worshippers: a woman wearing a hat kneels between two children in the central aisle; a couple stands behind the pews at right, while a nun kneels in prayer behind the pews at left. The small remarque portrait in the bottom margin is of Archbishop Hughes (born Ireland, 1797–1864), who served as the first Archbishop of the Archdiocese of New York from 1850 until his death. His coat of arms (with Latin motto "CLAUDIT ET APERIT" [Closes and Opens] is etched in the margin beneath the interior scene, lower center. Although Archbishop Hughes did not live to see the grand new St. Patrick's cathedral built, his key role in its realization is recognized by this print, executed just after the spires were completed.
Artwork Details
- Title: St. Patrick's Cathedral, Interior
- Artist: Etched by Albert Rosenthal (American, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 1863–1939 New York)
- Draftsman: After Max Rosenthal (American, born Russian Poland 1833–1918)
- Publisher: F. E. Parshley (Brooklyn, New York)
- Architect: Building designed by James Renwick Jr. (American, Bloomingdale, New York 1818–1895 New York)
- Date: 1889
- Medium: Etching
- Dimensions: Image: 19 7/8 × 14 13/16 in. (50.5 × 37.6 cm)
Image with remarque: 21 5/8 × 14 13/16 in. (54.9 × 37.6 cm)
Sheet: 25 5/8 × 18 3/4 in. (65.1 × 47.6 cm) - Classification: Prints
- Credit Line: The Edward W. C. Arnold Collection of New York Prints, Maps and Pictures, Bequest of Edward W. C. Arnold, 1954
- Object Number: 54.90.1261
- Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Multiple artists/makers
1889
Multiple artists/makers
1903
Multiple artists/makers
1903
James McNeill Whistler
1879–80
James McNeill Whistler
1878
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.