Prints
1901-Dated Max Rosenthal Signed Artist's Benjamin Franklin Portrait Proof Print after Charles Wilson Peale
1901 Dated Print of Benjamin Franklin, after a famous painting by Charles Wilson Peale, Artist Signed, "Max Rosenthal", as "No. 41 of 50 Proofs", Extremely Fine.
This wonderful, quality large Print itself measures about 22" x 13.5" by the plate size, and laid into a 24" x 17.5" heavy card mount. In the bottom margin, the artist, Max Rosenthal boldly signs his name in pencil at lower right. A second pencil notation in the bottom margin at center indicates that this is "No. 41 of 50 Proofs". The print itself is in excellent condition. The bottom edge of the card mount shows some irregular loss, not affecting anywhere near the print. A mat when framed would easily cover it completely.
Max Rosenthal engraved this portrait in 1901, after a famous painting by Charles Wilson Peale which shows a bespectacled Benjamin Franklin seated at a desk. Franklin appears to be holding a magic wand linked to a lightning bolt in the background. A quill pen and inkwell appear at lower right. This is the first example of this rare print that we have ever offered. We doubt if there are many survivors of this rare, 50 Proofs very limited edition.
Max Rosenthal (November 23, 1833 " August 8, 1918) was a Polish-American painter, lithographer, draftsman and etcher. Max Rosenthal was born on November 23, 1833 in Turek, Kingdom of Poland to Esther Kolsky and Wolf Rosenthal. He studied in Berlin under Professor Carl Harnisch. In 1847 he went to Paris, where he studied lithography, drawing, and painting with Martin Thurwanger, with whom he came to Philadelphia in 1849, and completed his studies.
Rosenthal made the chromolithographic plates for what is believed to be the first fully illustrated book by this process in the United States, "Wild Scenes and Wild Hunters." In 1854 he drew and lithographed an interior view of the old Masonic temple in Philadelphia, the plate being 22 by 25 inches, the largest chromolithograph that had been made in the country up to that time. He developed the first facsimile of water colors reproduced using the lithographic process in 1858. He also invented a process of decorating glass using sand blasting in 1872.
He designed and executed the illustrations for various works, and during the Civil War followed the Army of the Potomac, and drew every camp, up to the Battle of Gettysburg. He made illustrations for the U.S. Military Commission. These drawings he reproduced at the time. Up to 1884 he did miscellaneous works, including about 200 lithographs of distinguished Americans.
After 1884 he turned his attention to etching, and executed over 150 portraits of eminent Americans and British officers, together with numerous large plates, among which are:
"Storm Approaches," after the painting by Henry Mosler
illustrations for several of Longfellow's poems
"Doris, the Shepherd's Maiden"
"Marguerite"
He also painted, including a version of Longfellow's Building of the Ship, Legend of Rabbi Ben Levi and Jesus at Prayer.
Max Rosenthal was the founder of the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, and one of the founders of the Sketch Club.