St. John's Gate, Clerkenwell
1903
Medium
Etching on ivory laid paper
Dimensions
Image: 20.4 × 28 cm (8 1/16 × 11 1/16 in.); Sheet: 25.5 × 39 cm (10 1/16 × 15 3/8 in.)
Classification
etching
Department
Prints and Drawings
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
194211
Art Historical Context
Joseph Pennell's *St. John's Gate, Clerkenwell* (1903) captures the evocative Tudor-era gateway in London, a surviving remnant of the medieval Priory of the Knights Hospitaller founded in the 12th century. This etching showcases Pennell’s masterful eye for urban architecture, as he and his wife Elizabeth documented London’s historic sites during their time in England around the turn of the 20th century. Pennell, an American artist celebrated for his contributions to the print revival, drew inspiration from James McNeill Whistler, emphasizing atmospheric tone and intricate detail to evoke the g...
About the Artist
Joseph Pennell · 1857–1926
Joseph Pennell (1857–1926) was born in Philadelphia to Quaker parents and displayed an early aptitude for drawing, finding solace in sketching amid a challenging childhood. He received initial drawing instruction from James R. Lambdin and his first etching lessons from Stephen Ferris in 1879. Pennell attended night classes at the Pennsylvania Museum and School of Industrial Art before studying at ...