House Raising
1870s
Medium
Oil on slate paper
Dimensions
6 1/8 x 9 1/4 in. (15.6 x 23.5 cm)
Classification
Painting
Culture
American
Department
The American Wing
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Edward W. C. Arnold Collection of New York Prints, Maps, and Pictures, Bequest of Edward W. C. Arnold, 1954
Accession Number
54.90.512
Rights
Public Domain
Tags
Art Historical Context
William P. Chappel'sHouse Raising" captures a moment of 19-century American community life. in the 1870s, the small oil on slate paper depicts men and horses working together to erect a wooden house, a collaborative effort that brought neighbors together in rural and developing areas. The intimate scale—roughly the size of a postcard—invites close viewing, highlighting the physical labor and social bonds central to such events. The unusual choice of slate paper as a support lends the work a smooth, durable surface well-suited to fine detail, allowing Chappel to render textures of wood, fabric, and animal hide with precision. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum's American Wing, this piece belongs to the Edward W. C. Arnold Collection and offers a vivid glimpse into everyday working life during a period of rapid expansion across the United States. Its focus on ordinary people and practical tasks reflects the era's emphasis on self-reliance and communal support.
About the Artist
William P. Chappel · 1801–1878
American, 1801–1878