Manhattan Skyline

Justin McCarthy, Manhattan Skyline, ca. 1960, oil on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Nancy Karlins Thoman and Mark Thoman in honor of Herbert Waide Hemphill, Jr., 1991.79.1
Justin McCarthy, Manhattan Skyline, ca. 1960, oil on canvas, 17 7⁄8 x 24 in. (45.4 x 60.9 cm.), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Nancy Karlins Thoman and Mark Thoman in honor of Herbert Waide Hemphill, Jr., 1991.79.1

Artwork Details

Title
Manhattan Skyline
Artist
Date
ca. 1960
Location
Not on view
Dimensions
17 7⁄8 x 24 in. (45.4 x 60.9 cm.)
Credit Line
Gift of Nancy Karlins Thoman and Mark Thoman in honor of Herbert Waide Hemphill, Jr.
Mediums
Mediums Description
oil on canvas
Classifications
Subjects
  • Cityscape — New York — Manhattan
  • Cityscape — time — evening
  • Cityscape — bird’s eye view
  • Cityscape — New York — New York
  • Architecture Exterior — commercial — skyscraper
Object Number
1991.79.1
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/1991.79.1

Artwork Description

As Justin McCarthy’s eyesight began to fail, he painted with broader, looser brushstrokes. He worked quickly and often did not pause until the painting was completed. The jumbled lines and dabs of color of this image evoke the crowded, energetic skyline of New York at night, almost as if we are looking down at the city through half-closed eyes.

Works by this artist (13 items)

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John James Audubon, Joseph Bartholomew Kidd, Rose-Breasted Grosbeak, n.d., oil on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Transfer from the U. S. National Museum, 1953.3.4
Rose-Breasted Grosbeak
Artist
Daten.d.
oil on canvas
On view
John James Audubon, Washington Sea Eagle, ca. 1836-1839, oil on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Dr. S. Dillon Ripley II and Mary Livingston Ripley, 1994.121
Washington Sea Eagle
Artist
Dateca. 1836-1839
oil on canvas
On view
Image Not Available
Norwegian Rats
Artist
Date1845
hand-colored lithograph on paper
Not on view
John James Audubon, Julius Bien, Great White Heron, 1860, chromolithograph on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Transfer from the National Museum of Natural History, Division of Birds, Smithsonian Institution, 1975.20.5
Great White Heron
Artist
Date1860
chromolithograph on paper
Not on view

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Alice Pike Barney, Self-Portrait Reflected in Mirror, 1896, oil on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Laura Dreyfus Barney and Natalie Clifford Barney in memory of their mother, Alice Pike Barney, 1966.111.15
Self-Portrait Reflected in Mirror
Artist
Date1896
oil on canvas
Not on view
Edward Mitchell Bannister, Untitled (Landscape with Two Women Reclining on Rocks), oil on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of H. Alan and Melvin Frank, 1983.95.132
Untitled (Landscape with Two Women Reclining on Rocks)
Artist
oil on canvas
Not on view
Alice Pike Barney, Woman with Red Hood, n.d., oil on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Laura Dreyfus Barney and Natalie Clifford Barney in memory of their mother, Alice Pike Barney, 1952.13.66
Woman with Red Hood
Artist
Daten.d.
oil on canvas
Not on view