Detail of The Cathedrals of Fifth Avenue by Florine Stettheimer in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, March 2008

The Cathedrals of Fifth Avenue, 1931–32
Florine Stettheimer (American, 1871­1944)
Oil on canvas; 60 1/8 x 50 1/8 in. (152.7 x 127.3 cm)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
Gift of Ettie Stettheimer, 1953 (53.24.3)

In each of her Cathedrals, Stettheimer uses architecture to organize her composition. In this case it resembles a real Cathedral, perhaps Saint Patrick's Church on Fifth Avenue, although the newlyweds emerge from underneath a bright red canopy and matching carpet that seem to belong more to the Plaza Hotel than to a church. All around this central scene, activities depicting other aspects of conspicuous consumption abound, seemingly unaware of the wedding taking place. This wild activity energizes the canvas just as it energizes Fifth Avenue on a Saturday afternoon in December.

Text from: www.metmuseum.org/explore/artists_view/cathedrals_wedding...