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The Sketches of Illustrator Joseph Pennell

In 1892, the illustrator Joseph Pennell was commissioned by Century Magazine (New York) to undertake a journey to France and return with various atmospheric illustrations. He spent a significant amount of time in Chartres, creating numerous sketches.

The Louvre Museum’s Department of Graphic Arts holds a remarkable collection of watercolor washes, dedicated almost exclusively to the interior of the cathedral. From the south transept to Notre-Dame du Pilier, Pennell invites us on an intimate journey, paying close attention to architectural volumes, lighting effects, and the passersby and worshippers who bring life to the sanctuary.

Location Map.
South aisle.
North rose window viewed from the south transept. A nun walking.
The transept during a Mass.
South ambulatory. A few passersby.
South ambulatory. An isolated prie-dieu.
South ambulatory. An elderly woman praying in the foreground.
North ambulatory during a celebration in the Chapel of the Sacred Heart of Mary (now the Chapel of the Veil).
Notre-Dame du Pilier, illuminated by the glow of devotional crowns and candles.
North ambulatory. Local residents of Chartres walking.
In front of Notre-Dame du Pilier, several people praying. A cleric in the foreground to the right.
Canonical office in the grand choir. Note the cleared space—near the choir organ, one of the canons holding a musical score, with a cello resting on the ground.