If for any reason you’ve wondered what New York City was like in the 19th century, you might want to look to William P. Chappel’s (1801–1878) paintings to get both broad and specific ideas. Chappel, who was a tinsmith by profession but was also an amateur — and accomplished — painter, depicted life and happenings in New York, which, if the artist’s works are any indication, seems to have always been lively and animated.
Twenty-four of his works whose subject is the city are currently on view at the the Metropolitan Museum of Art, in an exhibit that will run until May 14. The paintings show the many facets of life in New York City, including how the dwellers plied their trade, what they did for pastimes, what technologies were present at the time, what the traditions were like, and what happened at night, among other subjects.
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The 24 paintings by Chappel that are on display at the Met may be viewed here.
Source: designfaves.com