The Boot Black

William P. Chappel American

Not on view

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.

The Boot Black, William P. Chappel (American, 1801–1878), Oil on slate paper, American

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The Boot Black, William P. Chappel (American, 1801–1878), Oil on slate paper, American
The Boot Black, William P. Chappel (American, 1801–1878), Oil on slate paper, American
The Boot Black, William P. Chappel (American, 1801–1878), Oil on slate paper, American

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