Rosenthal, L. N. (Louis N.)

U.Va. alumni, Governor of Maryland, 1932 candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Rosenthal's Lith. was an important lithographic printing company, active in Philadelphia from 1852 to 1884. The company included four Polish-born brothers who had immigrated to America: Louis, Morris, Simon, and Max Rosenthal. Max Rosenthal (1833-1918), who was skilled in etching, illustration, and lithography, was the artistic backbone of the group. Born in Poland, he was sent to Paris at age thirteen and apprenticed to the lithographer Martin Thurwanger. Both Rosenthal and Thurwanger immigrated to the United States around 1849 or 1850 to produce lithographs of scientific subjects for the government. Thurwanger returned to France and Rosenthal worked briefly for the lithographer Napoleon Sarony.

Max Rosenthal became a partner with his older brother Louis in a printing business, and they were soon joined by Morris and Simon. Louis was a publisher and printer, and Morris and Simon branched into other parts of the business. Max became well known as a lithographer and, after his retirement in 1884, devoted his attention to teaching, mezzotint engraving, and oil painting. With his son Albert Rosenthal, also an artist, Max Rosenthal produced over five hundred portrait prints of famous American political and military figures. Original drawings for his portrait work are held by the Historical Society of Pennsylvania.

Rosenthal's Lith. produced both hand-colored lithographs and chromolithographs and is remembered for pioneering work in this field. They produced some of the earliest chromolithographs in the United States, including Charles W. Webber's Hunter-Naturalist, published in 1851, and a number of large views of Philadelphia architecture. A number of these Philadelphia prints were based on watercolors and sketches by Max Rosenthal. They produced book illustrations of Philadelphia views, caricatures of famous people, and works for the federal government.

Peters, Harry T. America on Stone: The Other Printmakers to the American People . Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, Doran, c1931.