Joseph Pennell (1860 - 1926)
St. Bride’s Passage
Prepared for Charing Cross to St. Paul’s. Written by Justin McCarthy illustrated by Joseph Pennell. Published 1891.
Pen-and-ink on paper
1890-91
Paper size: 13 1/4 x 9 1/2 in.
# AP02964

This is the finest offering of magnificent original drawings of late 19th-century London ever to come to market by the world-renowned master, Joseph Pennell. The use of dark, rich contrast of black and white is arresting.  Joseph Pennell and James McNeill Whistler were two major artists of the Aesthetic Movement, which ran from 1870 to 1895.

Prepared for the book Charing Cross to St. Paul, co-authored by Pennell alongside Justin McCarthy, and published by MacMillan in New York in 1891. This illustrated topographical work provides a descriptive and historical exploration of notable landmarks situated between Charing Cross and St. Paul’s Cathedral. 

Joseph Pennell was born on July 4, 1857, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Rebecca A. Barton and Larkin Pennell. Raised in a Quaker home, he was urged by his parents to pursue a conventional business career. However, Joseph was drawn to art and spent his evenings diligently studying at both the Philadelphia Industrial Art School and the prestigious Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. In 1880, he made the pivotal decision to leave formal education and rent a studio, thereby establishing himself as a freelance illustrator, primarily earning his livelihood through magazine illustrations.

In 1884, Pennell’s career took a significant turn when he was appointed as the European correspondent for The Century, allowing him to relocate to London. There, he and his wife, Elizabeth, quickly became vital figures within the Aesthetic Movement, mingling with prominent individuals, including the renowned painter James McNeill Whistler. Throughout his career, Pennell was a prolific artist and writer, continually experimenting with innovative graphic techniques while striving to elevate the status of book illustrations within literary and artistic communities.

Together, Joseph and Elizabeth, a well-respected columnist and biographer in her own right, frequently collaborated on various travel writings, enriching the literary landscape of their time. In 1917, the couple returned to the United States, where Joseph taught at the Art Students’ League in New York City for several years, inspiring the next generation of artists.