The Philadelphia Print Shop, Ltd.

Prints by Joseph Pennell

Joseph Pennell (1860-1926) was an etcher, lithographer, illustrator and author. He is one of the best known and respected of American artists from the etching revival period. Born in Philadelphia, Pennell trained at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and at the Pennsylvania School of Industrial Art, and later he taught at the National Academy and the Art Students League in New York City. From 1883, Pennell spent most of his time in Europe, until 1917 when he moved back permanently to the United States. Over his distinguished and prolific career, he won many medals and awards in the United States and in Europe, and is considered one of the great etching innovators of the time. Amongst his other achievements, Pennell illustrated and authored many books, contributed to leading magazines and was one of the founders of the Philadelphia Society of Etchers.

Pennell's major influence was James McNeill Whistler, whose biography he co-authored with his wife, and much of his style and etching technique reflects Whistler's. His prints had many themes, including monuments, cities, factories and for one documentary series, the Panama Canal. Pennell printed many of his own lithographs and etchings, and he continuously experimented with techniques and materials. His work is desirable for his technique, artistic style and the varied subject matter that he so imaginatively portrayed.

NOTE: Numbers preceded by "W" refer to the Wuerth Catalogue Raisonné reference books, which contain plates of all of Pennell's etchings and lithographs. All prints are signed in pencil and are in very good condition, unless noted.

Etchings:

W272. "West Door, St. Pauls." 1903. 11 x 8 1/2. Ed:50. $850
W327. "Union Square and Bank of Metropolis." [New York] 1904. On fine tissue. 11 3/4 x 8 3/8. Signed in pencil. Ed: 75. W327. $600
W366. "St. Paul's Pavement." [London] 1905. 8 1/2 x 11. Ed: ca. 30. $600
W385. "Sunlight Soap." [London] 1905. 8 1/2 x 10 7/8. Ed: ca. 50. Signed in pencil. $425
W537. "Coal Wharves Staten Island No. 1." 1909. 5 1/2 x 12. Signed in pencil by the artist. Ed: 60. $1,200
W597. "The Meuse Mill." [Germany] 1910. 9 1/2 x 12 1/2. Signed in pencil by the artist. Mat burn in margins. $300
W629. "The Cathedral, Panama." 1912. 9 1/4 x 12 1/4. Framed. $450
W739. "What the City built beautifully, it destroys Ruthlessly." 1920. 8 x 9 3/4. Ed: 50. W739. View of the Victorian Stand Pipe and Pump Houses, Farmount Water Works, Philadelphia. Signed in pencil. Titled in plate. $900
W746. "Fourth Street Meeting House." [Philadelphia]. 1920. 8 x 9 7/8. Ed: 50. $850
W805. "General Office Building Brooklyn Edison Co." 1923. 12 x 10. $625
W809. "Lodgings for Gents." [New York] 1923. 11 3/4 x 8 3/4. $800
W819. "The Nave, Washington Cathedral." 1923. 9 3/4 x 11 7/8. W819. $750

Unrecorded etchings not found in Wuerth:

Lithographs:

W11. "Apartments of Washington Irving." 1896. 7 1/4 x 5. Lithograph. Signed in pencil by the artist. Ed:15. $500
W164. "St. Paul's from Adelphia, London." 1904. 8 1/2 x 11 1/2. Ed:15. Signed in image. Diagonal line from stone in image upper left quadrant. $350
W214. "Canal and Factory." c.1911. 9 1/2 x 12 1/2. Signed in pencil by the artist. $275
W283. "Old Fairmount Water Works and Basin." 1912. 16 7/8 x 22. Signed in pencil. $1,400
W286. "Table and Chair, Signers' Room, Independence Hall." 1912. 23 x 17. $700
W292. "Liberty Bell." 1912. 23 x 17. $700
W301. "The Hall, Cliveden." 1912. Ed:25 16 3/4 x 21 3/4. OUT ON APPROVAL
W302. "Hallway at Dr. Wister's." 1912. Ed:25 16 3/4 x 21 3/4. $600
W303. "Chew's House." [Drawing Room at Cliveden] 1912. Ed:25 16 3/4 x 21 3/4. OUT ON APPROVAL
W512. [Ready to Start]. 1918. 15 x 20. Signed in image. Several old tears in margins and into image. Print is mounted to an old board but stable. Title trimmed to remarque under the image; narrow margins top and sides. Fine condition. $325
W618. "Yard of the General Electric Works, Berlin." 1921. 14 3/4 x 21. $450

Poster:

"The Court of Honor, South Broad St. Philadelphia." 1919. 32 x 22 (sheet). Lithograph published by Ketterlinus. War poster designed for the Victory Loan Campaign. Paper slightly rough at margins, with some light staining, not affecting image. Not in Wuerth. $400

Etching reproduced in Talio Chrome:

Joseph Pennell. "Delphine's New Orleans." Signed "Jo. Pennell. Etching reproduced in Talio-Crome. 5 5/7 x 8 3/4 (platemarks) plus full margins. Dated 1882 by Wuerth, 48. Titles it "Madame Delphines, N. O." Catalogue of the Pennell Memorial, p. 24. $150

Books for sale about Joseph Pennell:

Joseph Pennell. Pennell's New York Etchings. 90 Prints by Joseph Pennell. From the Picker Art Gallery, Colgate University. Selection and Text by Edward Bryant, Director. New York: 1980. Paper. $7.95

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