Object Number 1973.0551

Object Name

Print (Color lithograph)

Title

Grand Lodge Room of the NEW MASONIC HALL, Chestnut Street Philadelphia.

Category

Prints and Maps

Credit Line/Donor

Library purchase

Creator (Role)

Max Rosenthal (Lithographer)
1833-1918
Five Rosenthal brothers, Max, Morris, Louis, Simon, and David, were born in Poland. Of these, all but David worked in Philadelphia as lithographers. Max Rosenthal, the youngest brother, was born November 23, 1833. In order to prevent the boys from being conscripted into the Polish army upon their thirteenth birthdays, their father, Wolf Rosenthal, sent his sons abroad. Morris was sent to Berlin to a rabbinical school, Louis and Simon to London to apprentice as lithographic printers, and Max to Paris where he studied lithography with Martin Thurwanger. Sometime in 1849 or 1850 the brothers, without David, reunited in Philadelphia. Max Rosenthal came to the United States with Christian Schussele, Alphonse Bigot, and Martin Thurwanger. Louis N. Rosenthal entered into a brief partnership with Peter Kramer in 1850 or 1851. The Rosenthal family firm seems to have begun in 1852 when they are listed in directories as doing business at the corner of Third and Dock Streets. Louis acted as the publisher and printer and Max was the principal artist of the company. The Rosenthals, like other major lithographers in Philadelphia, experimented with chromolithography and won a prize for their work in this field at the 1851 exhibitiion at the Franklin Institute. The Rosenthals produced a large number of lithographs depicting Civil War battle scenes and encampments. Many of these exhibit great care in the indentification of specific army units, leading to the speculation that the work may have been done on commission for sale to the soldiers or their families. Louis N. Rosenthal moved to Chicago around 1875. Max Rosenthal continued working in Philadelphia until his death on August 8, 1918. (As per University of Pennsylvania Library website [http://www.library.upenn.edu/collections/rbm/keffer/rosen.html] accessed 12/22/2005.

Sloan & Stewart (Architect)
1853-1859
This firm was established by architect Samuel Sloan and carpenter John Stewart after they met during the construction of the Italianate villa Bartram's Hall for Andrew M. Eastwick. They set up their partnership in 1853 with offices at 6th and Walnut streets. This successful partnership lasted for six years. The firm's practice was general, including schools, residences, and churches. Chief among their works were the housing operation at Hamilton Terrace (41st Street between Baltimore Pike and Chester Avenue in West Philadelphia, 1856) and Harrison Row (10 speculative houses for Joseph Harrison on Locust Street between 17th and 18th streets). Although Sloan would chiefly work alone after the dissolution of this partnership, he did operate for a short time within the office of Sloan & Hutton (1864-67) and late in his career also established a brief partnership with Charles Balderston and Isaiah B. Young. (From [http://www.philadelphiabuildings.org] accessed 12/22/2005).

Collins & Autenrieth (Draftsman)
1852-1904
"Collins & Autenrieth, not much is known about the background of its two founding members. Edward Collins (1821-1902) was born in Köningsberg, Prussia, and studied at universities in Karlsruhe and Berlin, two important architectural centers in Germany. While there, he became friends with Charles M. Autenrieth (1828-1906), who was born in Wurtenburg, and who was also a student of architecture. According to the records of his family, Collins came to Philadelphia in 1849, and it is likely that he persuaded Autenrieth to come with him. This emigration may have been the result of the Revolution of 1848 which swept across Germany, France, and other European nations, and which resulted in the flight of many German engineers and architects to the United States in the years immediately following. Upon arrival in Philadelphia, Autenrieth found a job in the architectural firm of Samuel Sloan. Collins, too, may have been in Sloan's employ, perhaps as an illustrator, since his signature is on several works that are thought to have come from Sloan's firm, such as the Masonic Temple of Philadelphia." As per University of Delware Library website: [www.lib.udel.edu (date accessed 12/22/2005)].

Louis N. Rosenthal (Publisher)
References: Peters, America on Stone, pp. 343-46. Five Rosenthal brothers, Max, Morris, Louis, Simon, and David, were born in Poland. Of these, all but David worked in Philadelphia as lithographers. Max Rosenthal, the youngest brother, was born November 23, 1833. In order to prevent the boys from being conscripted into the Polish army upon their thirteenth birthdays, their father, Wolf Rosenthal, sent his sons abroad. Morris was sent to Berlin to a rabbinical school, Louis and Simon to London to apprentice as lithographic printers, and Max to Paris where he studied lithography with Martin Thurwanger. Sometime in 1849 or 1850 the brothers, without David, reunited in Philadelphia. Max Rosenthal came to the United States with Christian Schussele, Alphonse Bigot, and Martin Thurwanger. Louis N. Rosenthal entered into a brief partnership with Peter Kramer in 1850 or 1851. The Rosenthal family firm seems to have begun in 1852 when they are listed in directories as doing business at the corner of Third and Dock Streets. Louis acted as the publisher and printer and Max was the principal artist of the company. The Rosenthals, like other major lithographers in Philadelphia, experimented with chromolithography and won a prize for their work in this field at the 1851 exhibitiion at the Franklin Institute. The Rosenthals produced a large number of lithographs depicting Civil War battle scenes and encampments. Many of these exhibit great care in the indentification of specific army units, leading to the speculation that the work may have been done on commission for sale to the soldiers or their families. Louis N. Rosenthal moved to Chicago around 1875. Max Rosenthal continued working in Philadelphia until his death on August 8, 1918. (As per University of Pennsylvania Library website [http://www.library.upenn.edu/collections/rbm/keffer/rosen.html] accessed 12/22/2005.

Place of Origin

Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Mid-Atlantic, United States, North America

Date

1855

Mark or Signature or Inscription or Label

1. Inscription; Lower left; On stone by Max Rosenthal.
2. Inscription; Lower right; Sloan & Stewart, Architects.
3. Inscription; Lower center; PUBLISHED & LITH. IN COLORS BY L.N. ROSENTHAL [staining]
4. Inscription; Lower center; Collins & Autenrieth, Del.

Subjects

Interior view; Masonic imagery

Materials

Ink; Paper (wove)

Techniques

Lithography

Dimensions (inches)

25.2 (H) , 30.3 (W) , 23.5 (Image H) , 27.1 (Image W)

Dimensions (centimeters)

63.9 (H) , 76.9 (W) , 23.5 (Image H) , 27.1 (Image W)

Measurement Notes

Measurements at maximum.

Publisher Summary

Rosenthal, Louis N.

Publication Date

1855

Place of Publication

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Coloring

Colored stones

Object Description

Text available soon.

Bibliography and Bibliographic Notes

[Book] Fowble, E. McSherry. 1987 Two Centuries of Prints in America, 1680-1880 : A Selective Catalogue of the Winterthur Museum Collection.
• Published: no. 295, p. 417.
[Book] Peters, Harry Twyford. 1931 America on stone: the other printmakers to the American people; a chronicle of American lithography other than that of Currier & Ives, from its beginning, shortly before 1820, to the years when the commercial single-stone hand-colored lithograph.
• See pp. 343-346.