The Boot Black

William P. Chappel

1870s · Oil on slate paper · The American Wing

Here, Chappel captures two extremes of New York society. In the center are three black workers—a boot black and two liveried coachmen. Whether they are free or enslaved is uncertain. This scene likely dates from 1806 to 1813, well before New York abolished slavery in 1827. If free, the men would have received meager wages. Chappel also depicts the Walton House, one of the city’s grandest homes, in great detail at far right. It was built in the 1750s by the merchant William Walton, who secured his family’s fortune by shipping provisions to the Spanish in St. Augustine, Florida.

Artist

William P. Chappel

Date

1870s

Medium

Oil on slate paper

Culture

American

Department

The American Wing

Credit line

The Edward W. C. Arnold Collection of New York Prints, Maps, and Pictures, Bequest of Edward W. C. Arnold, 1954