Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography/Rosenthal, Max

ROSENTHAL, Max, artist, b. in Turck, Russian Poland, 23 Nov., 1833. In 1847 he went to Paris, where he studied lithography, drawing, and painting with M. Thurwanger, with whom he came to Philadelphia, Pa., in 1849, where he completed his studies. He made the chromo-lithographic 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 chrome-lithograph that had been made in the country up to that time. 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. 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 he has since executed 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, and original etchings entitled “Doris, the Shepherd's Maiden,” and “Marguerite.” He is a member of the Pennsylvania academy of fine arts, and one of the founders of the Sketch club. — His son, Albert, artist, b. in Philadelphia, 30 Jan., 1863, studied art under his father and at the Pennsylvania academy. He turned his attention to etching. and has become widely known for his work, which, like that of his father, includes numerous portraits of American historical characters. He is a member of the Academy of fine arts, the Sketch club, and the Art students' union.