Provenance

Marvin Breckinridge Patterson

American, 1905 - 2002

Explore selected works

See all 33 works of art
The image is an overhead view of a vintage car parked on a street next to a sidewalk. Several people are around the car, some getting in or out. The sidewalk features an awning with the text "STARRY ROOF" and "WALDORF ASTORIA" visible. The ground is neatly paved, and the composition suggests movement and activity in an urban setting.
Ruth Orkin, Starlight Roof at the Waldorf, New York City, 1950, gelatin silver print, The Marvin Breckinridge Patterson Fund for Photography, 2000.83.3

Starlight Roof at the Waldorf, New York City

Ruth Orkin · 1950 · gelatin silver print ·  Accession ID  2000.83.3

The image depicts a composition of geometric shapes, primarily a rectangular shape representing a bed, against a dark background. A woman appears to hover in the bed amidst a starry sky. The scene is abstract with star-like shapes scattered around and a crescent moon visible in the top right corner.
Marta Hoepffner, The Plunge into the Deep, 1935, gelatin silver print collage, The Marvin Breckinridge Patterson Fund for Photography, 1999.95.1

The Plunge into the Deep

Marta Hoepffner · 1935 · gelatin silver print collage ·  Accession ID  1999.95.1

This is a photograph of an infant being tended to next to a fireplace. The baby is being held by an adult and they are sitting before a rustic fireplace. The room has floral patterned wallpaper, and the mantel is decorated with items such as a clock, photographs, and floral arrangements. An uncapped bottle and other small objects are on a nearby chair. The lighting in the room enhances the atmosphere.
Marvin Breckinridge Patterson, Frontier Nursing Service, Kentucky, 1937, gelatin silver print, Gift of Marvin Breckinridge Patterson, 1997.56.6

Frontier Nursing Service, Kentucky

Marvin Breckinridge Patterson · 1937 · gelatin silver print ·  Accession ID  1997.56.6

This is an image of a Ferris wheel and a sign. The Ferris wheel is shown with multiple cabins on its circular frame, taken from a low angle to emphasize its height and metal structure against the sky. In the foreground, a sign with bold letters and an arrow pointing left is partially visible. The image is in black and white, highlighting the composition and contrast of the elements.
Franz Weiser, Riesenrad (Ferris Wheel), 1929, gelatin silver print, The Marvin Breckinridge Patterson Fund for Photography, 2005.11.4

Riesenrad (Ferris Wheel)

Franz Weiser · 1929 · gelatin silver print ·  Accession ID  2005.11.4

The image shows large rock formations in a misty, sepia-toned landscape. The viewer is at the base of the rocks, looking up at their rugged edges. The horizon is obscured by mist, creating a seamless transition between the rocks and the sky. The photograph captures the texture and solidity of the rocks, while the haze softens the details. The color palette is muted with sepia tones. The closer rocks have more detailed surfaces, while the distant rocks blend into the fog. Shadows are more pronounced near the base of the rocks, and the mist captures the light on the upper portions.
Laura Gilpin, Ghost Rock, Colorado Springs, 1919, platinum print, The Marvin Breckinridge Patterson Fund for Photography, 2002.128.1

Ghost Rock, Colorado Springs

Laura Gilpin · 1919 · platinum print ·  Accession ID  2002.128.1

The image shows a unique perspective of a bridge, with a person sitting on a stone pathway next to a body of water. The bridge has intricate iron framework and stone pillars, crossing diagonally in the scene. People are walking on the bridge, silhouetted against the sky with buildings in the distance. The horizon is not clearly visible. The color palette is monochrome, giving a historic feel. The water reflects light and the cobblestones show texture.
Ilse Bing, Pont des Arts, Paris, 1931, gelatin silver print, The Marvin Breckinridge Patterson Fund for Photography, 1998.78.2

Pont des Arts, Paris

Ilse Bing · 1931 · gelatin silver print ·  Accession ID  1998.78.2

The image displays a wooden cabin with a shingled roof on a sloping terrain. The cabin is by a river. Two individuals, three dogs, and a horse are near the cabin. Sparse trees surround the cabin, suggesting a leafless season. The color palette is sepia.
Marvin Breckinridge Patterson, Frontier Nursing Service, Kentucky, 1937, gelatin silver print, Gift of Marvin Breckinridge Patterson, 1997.56.1

Frontier Nursing Service, Kentucky

Marvin Breckinridge Patterson · 1937 · gelatin silver print ·  Accession ID  1997.56.1

From close to the ground, we look sharply up at three skyscrapers that nearly meet in the empty sky in this black and white photograph. The building in front of us has more than twenty-five stories, each of which is lined with windows. The building to our left is deep in shadow as it zooms steeply into space. Sun warms the top half of the building to our right. Only a sliver of sky is visible between the left and center building, and where the three meet in the deep distance.
Berenice Abbott, Canyon, Broadway and Exchange Place, 1936, gelatin silver print, The Marvin Breckinridge Patterson Fund for Photography, 2000.148.1

Canyon, Broadway and Exchange Place

Berenice Abbott · 1936 · gelatin silver print ·  Accession ID  2000.148.1

The image features a street view surrounded by tall buildings. The perspective leads the eye toward a distant skyscraper. The horizon is set by the tops of the buildings. The scene is in black and white, with varying shades of light and dark. Old-fashioned cars are parked along the street, and a vintage street lamp is visible. The style is vintage black and white photography, highlighting the architectural details from an earlier era.
Berenice Abbott, Vanderbilt Avenue from East 46th Street, October 9, 1935, gelatin silver print, The Marvin Breckinridge Patterson Fund for Photography and Robert B. Menschel Fund, 1998.65.1

Vanderbilt Avenue from East 46th Street

Berenice Abbott · October 9, 1935 · gelatin silver print ·  Accession ID  1998.65.1

This is a photograph of an urban residential alley. The image shows a narrow space between brick buildings, with multiple lines strung across the alleyway holding various articles of laundry. The buildings on either side have metal fire escapes and cast distinct shadows onto the walls and ground. The ground features faint markings and a small abandoned tricycle.
Ilse Bing, New York: Courtyard with Laundry and Reflections of Sunlight, 1952, gelatin silver print, The Marvin Breckinridge Patterson Fund for Photography, 1999.96.1

New York: Courtyard with Laundry and Reflections of Sunlight

Ilse Bing · 1952 · gelatin silver print ·  Accession ID  1999.96.1