The Portico of the Parthenon
1913
Medium
lithograph
Classification
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Rosenwald Collection
Accession Number
1943.3.6984
Art Historical Context
Joseph Pennell's *The Portico of thethenon* (1913) invites visitors to marvel at the majestic entrance of the ancient Greek temple atop the Acropolis in Athens. This lithographfully renders the Doric columns and architectural precision of the Parthenon a 5th-century BCE symbol of classical antiquity, democracy, and artistic perfection. Pennell, an acclaimed American artist (1857–1926) known for his architectural prints, captured its enduring power during a time when early 20th-century travelers rediscovered ancient wonders amid rising interest in classical heritage. As a lithograph—a printmak...
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 ...