The Founder's Tomb, Church of Saint Bartholomew the Great

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, Pennell— an American artist celebrated for his architectural precision—employed the intaglio technique to capture the tomb's weathered stone textures, intricate effigies, and atmospheric depth. Etching on paper, with its needle-etched lines bitten by acid, allowed Pennell to convey light filtering through ancient arches and the subtle patina of history, transforming a static monument into a living relic. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Prints and Drawings department, this work highlights printmaking's power to democratize grand architecture, inviting modern viewers to ponder medieval devotion amid urban evolution. A testament to Pennell's wanderlust for Europe's cathedrals, it bridges eras with elegant fidelity.

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 ...