Narrow, vertical rectangular etching with detailed rendering of street approaching a portion of an elaborate Gothic cathedral

John Taylor Arms (1887–1953)
Abside de la Cathédrale de Saint Pierre et Saint Paul, Troyes (The Apse of the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul, Troyes)
Etching, 1929
The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs, Print Collection

Abside de la Cathédrale de Saint Pierre et Saint Paul, Troyes (The Apse of the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul, Troyes)

Among John Taylor Arms’s favorite subjects were famous architectural monuments, especially Gothic churches and cathedrals. He began his French Church Series in 1923 and continued it until his death in 1953. This statement sheds light on his continued interest in the subject: “From Amiens and Rheims in the North, down through the Ile de France and back again to Bourges and Troyes, these emblems of man’s faith and hope soar skyward, pointing their glorious towers to the heaven which inspired their erection.” Using sewing needles and magnifying glasses, Arms achieved an extraordinary level of detail in his prints, evident in the example shown here. 

: The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs, Print Co…

: View record

Not currently on view

The New York Public Library believes that this item is in the public domain under the laws of the United States, but did not make a determination as to its copyright status under the copyright laws of other countries. This item may not be in the public domain under the laws of other countries. Though not required, if you want to credit us as the source, please use the following statement, "From The New York Public Library," and provide a link back to the item on our Digital Collections site. Doing so helps us track how our collection is used and helps justify freely releasing even more content in the future.

Items in Belief

View All Items in This Section