Trinity Church, New York

Robert Wilvers, Trinity Church, New York, ca. 1956-1957, watercolor and pencil on paperboard, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Ford Motor Company, 1966.36.201
Copied Robert Wilvers, Trinity Church, New York, ca. 1956-1957, watercolor and pencil on paperboard, sheet and image: 30 × 22 in. (76.2 × 55.9 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Ford Motor Company, 1966.36.201

Artwork Details

Title
Trinity Church, New York
Artist
Date
ca. 1956-1957
Location
Not on view
Dimensions
sheet and image: 30 × 22 in. (76.2 × 55.9 cm)
Credit Line
Gift of the Ford Motor Company
Mediums
Mediums Description
watercolor and pencil on paperboard
Classifications
Subjects
  • Cityscape — New York — New York
  • Cityscape — street
  • Architecture — vehicle — automobile
  • Architecture — religious — Trinity Church
  • Architecture Exterior — commercial — skyscraper
  • Figure group
Object Number
1966.36.201
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/1966.36.201

Artwork Description

In Trinity Church, New York, commercial illustrator Robert Wilvers depicts Richard Upjohn's historic Gothic Revival church (1839--46) from an elevated perspective looking down Wall Street toward Broadway. The imposing edifice and multi-toned office buildings overwhelm the comparatively miniscule individuals and automobiles on the street, creating a sense of claustrophobic energy and excitement. After moving to New York from the Midwest to pursue a career in advertising, Wilvers produced illustrations for large corporations like Macy's and Ford Motor Company. The April 1957 issue of Ford Times, the automaker's monthly publication about cars and travel, featured his images of Wall Street to promote New York City as a road trip destination.