Plazza del Comune, Pistoia
1883
Medium
etching and drypoint in black on wove paper
Dimensions
plate: 24.29 × 22.7 cm (9 9/16 × 8 15/16 in.) sheet: 43.18 × 30.8 cm (17 × 12 1/8 in.)
Classification
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Corcoran Collection (Museum Purchase, Mary E. Maxwell Fund)
Accession Number
2015.19.302
Rights
Public Domain
Art Historical Context
In the heart of Italy's Tuscany region lies the historic Piazza del Comune in Pistoia, vividly captured in Joseph Pennell's 1883 etching *Plazza del Comune, Pistoia*. Pennell, an acclaimed American artist (1857–1926) and pioneer of the late-19th-century etching revival, traveled extensively through Europe, documenting architectural gems with a keen eye for light, shadow, and urban energy. This print, measuring about 9½ × 9 inches on its plate, reflects his fascination with medieval Italian town squares, blending intricate detail with atmospheric depth to evoke the piazza's lively communal spirit. Crafted in etching and drypoint on wove paper, the work showcases Pennell's technical mastery. Etching allowed precise, acid-bitten lines for architectural forms, while drypoint's direct needle scratches created velvety burrs and rich tonal variations, lending a tactile immediacy rare in reproductions. This combination produced editionable yet painterly prints, making fine art accessible beyond paintings. Now part of the National Gallery of Art's Corcoran Collection (acquired via the Mary E. Maxwell Fund), this piece highlights Pennell's role in elevating printmaking as a serious medium. It invites visitors to ponder everyday European life through an American lens, bridging continents and centuries in a single, intimate sheet.
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 ...