Old Ferry Stairs

William P. Chappel

1870s · Oil on slate paper · The American Wing

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.

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