Manhattan Skyline

John Cunning, Manhattan Skyline, 1934, oil on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Transfer from the U.S. Department of Labor, 1964.1.44
John Cunning, Manhattan Skyline, 1934, oil on canvas, 32 1848 18 in. (81.5122.2 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Transfer from the U.S. Department of Labor, 1964.1.44

Artwork Details

Title
Manhattan Skyline
Artist
Date
1934
Location
Not on view
Dimensions
32 1848 18 in. (81.5122.2 cm)
Credit Line
Transfer from the U.S. Department of Labor
Mediums
Mediums Description
oil on canvas
Classifications
Subjects
  • Architecture Exterior — industry — factory
  • Architecture Exterior — commercial — skyscraper
  • New Deal — Public Works of Art Project — New York City
  • Cityscape — weather — snow
  • Waterscape — harbor — New York Harbor
  • Cityscape — river — East River
  • Cityscape — New York — New York
Object Number
1964.1.44

Artwork Description

This panoramic view of lower Manhattan seen from Brooklyn was an absorbing artistic project for artist John Cunning. He wrote to the Public Works of Art Project asking for more time. The artist needed many days to study the scene, capturing winter light effects on the many structures he described in detail.

New York City goes about its varied daily businesses in Cunning's painting, despite the Depression. Whether or not their offices were full of workers, the Farmer's Trust Building, 120 Wall Street, the Bank of Manhattan, 60 Wall Tower, and the Singer Building towered proudly against the gray sky. Commuters who still had jobs had come from the outer boroughs in the ferry boats shown tied up at the Manhattan docks. Tugboats steam up and down the East River pulling barges and guiding the great ships that arrived in New York from all over the world. On the Brooklyn shore, cargo ships are tied up for loading or unloading. The men in the foreground are removing snow from the roofs of a coffee warehouse on Water Street near the Brooklyn Bridge.

1934: A New Deal for Artists exhibition label

Works by this artist (8 items)

Beatrice S. Levy, The Beach, n.d., color aquatint, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Chicago Society of Etchers, 1935.13.188
The Beach
Daten.d.
color aquatint
Not on view
Beatrice S. Levy, The Derelict, 1914, color aquatint on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Chicago Society of Etchers, 1935.13.187
The Derelict
Date1914
color aquatint on paper
Not on view
Beatrice S. Levy, In Orchestra Hall, n.d., drypoint, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Chicago Society of Etchers, 1935.13.189
In Orchestra Hall
Daten.d.
drypoint
Not on view
Beatrice S. Levy, Rain in the Hills, 1935, etching on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Chicago Society of Etchers, 1935.13.605
Rain in the Hills
Date1935
etching on paper
Not on view

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Date2000
gelatin silver print
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Salvatore Mancini, Remains of Lock, Millville, 2000, gelatin silver print, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Joseph A. Chazan, M.D., 2002.80.6
Remains of Lock, Millville
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Keisha Scarville, Chair, 2001, gelatin silver print, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Perkins Center for the Arts, 2002.17, © 2001, Keisha Scarville
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Date2001
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Eel Fisherman
Date2000
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