Artwork
Rebuilding the Campanile, Venice, No.II
Rebuilding the Campanile, Venice, No.II is an ink print by Joseph Pennell. It dates from 1911 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Joseph Pennell’s 1911 etching *Rebuilding the Campanile, Venice, No. II* records the reconstruction of Venice’s iconic bell tower. The print captures a bustling piazza, with the half‑erected tower framed by surrounding buildings and a crowd of onlookers. Pennell’s line work conveys both the architectural details and the activity of the site.
Subject & Meaning
The image focuses on the Campanile’s restoration after its collapse, emphasizing the interplay between historic structure and contemporary labor. By placing workers, scaffolding, and pedestrians within the composition, Pennell highlights the communal effort to preserve a landmark while documenting a moment of urban transformation.
Technique & Style
Executed as an etching, the work relies on acid‑etched metal plates to produce fine lines and tonal variation. Pennell’s approach favors rapid, sketch‑like strokes that suggest movement and shadow, forgoing polished rendering in favor of a more immediate, expressive visual record.
History & Provenance
Pennell, a former student of James Lambdin and Thomas Eakins, spent much of his career traveling in Europe, producing prints of notable architectural sites. Influenced by James McNeill Whistler, he applied his draftsmanship to a series of Venice scenes, of which this etching is a representative example.
Context
Created during a period of renewed interest in documenting urban change, the print aligns with early‑20th‑century efforts to record architectural heritage amid modernization. The Campanile’s reconstruction was a public event, and Pennell’s work serves as a visual chronicle of that civic undertaking.
Artist & collection
Artist
Joseph Pennell (July 4, 1857 – April 23, 1926) was an American draftsman, etcher, lithographer, and illustrator for books and magazines.
