The Founder's Tomb, Church of Saint Bartholomew the Great
1903
Medium
Etching on paper
Classification
etching
Department
Prints and Drawings
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
28919
Art Historical Context
Step into the shadowed sanctity of London's Church of Saint Bartholomew the Great Joseph Pennell's *The Founder's Tomb* (1903), a masterful etching that immortalizes one of England's oldest surviving Norman churches. Founded in 1123 by courtier Rahere as a priory and hospital, the church endured centuries of history, from medieval grandeur to Victorian restoration. Pennell's print focuses on Rahere's tomb, a monument blending Romanesque sculpture with Gothic flourishes, evoking the founder's legacy of piety and philanthropy. As a leading figure in the early 20th-century etching revival, Penne...
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 ...