UD Special Collections > Finding Aids > John DePol Papers Index > Series Outline

 

Series I.  Work by John DePol, 1931-1997

 

Extent: 10 linear ft.

 

Contents:  Pencil and pen drawings, watercolors, dry brush and wash drawings, oil paintings, proofs of etchings, copper and zinc etched plates, wood cuts, lithographs, proofs, prints and woodblocks for wood engravings, notes, and correspondence, and photographs.

 

Arrangement:  The series includes seven series: 1. Early artwork, 2. Etched cooper and zinc plates, 3. etchings, 4. Woodcuts, 5. Miscellaneous drawings and lettering, 6. Wood engravings, and 7. Woodblocks.  Arrangement within each subseries is description at the subseries note.

 

Description:

 

            John DePol began creating works of art in a variety of media before he focused on wood engraving in 1947.  DePol sketched in pencil, drew in ink, created dry brush and wash drawings, painted in oils and watercolors, etched, did wood cuts, and created lithographs.  DePol worked in some of these media throughout his life, particularly pencils sketches.  The first five subseries reflect his work in these media.  Particularly well-presented are etchings, with preliminary drawings, etched copper or zinc plates, proofs and final prints.

            The sixth and seventh subseries are devoted to the heart of DePol life’s work, namely his wood engravings.  Subseries I.6 includes proofs, prints and supporting material toward individual engravings.  The number of engravings found here will appear limited because many of DePol’s engravings are found in his working files related to particular commercial or fine presses jobs (Series II) as well as among the personal papers in Series VII., where the Christmas cards DePol created for his family are located.

            Using the material in this series and Series II. a researcher can follow DePol’s creative process from an initial idea or request through the completed print.  This is made possible largely because of the extensive commentary and critique which DePol inscribed on many of the proofs of engravings which he created.  Many such proofs are extant in this collection.  DePol was also meticulous in dating his work and frequently noting the circumstances surrounding the printing.  For example the copper and zinc plates in subseries I.2 are housed in envelopes on which DePol, in 1996, typed remembrances about creation of each etching and comments about the subject of the etching.  DePol’s comments have been transcribed to this finding aid.

            Subseries I.7 includes woodblocks engraved by DePol, which are cross referenced in DePol’s files in Series II.  Among the woodblocks are examples of engravings for commercial jobs, such as the engravings for The Connecticut Gazette; for fine press book illustrations such as the series of engravings for Barbarian Press’s publication of Inishbream, for academic institutions, such as the engravings for the Harvard Medical School, and examples of engravings which were gifts from DePol to John Anderson and Ben Grauer.  Also represented among the woodblocks are samples of press marks and the series of engravings of scenes from Ireland.

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Contents List

Box -- Folder -- Contents

Series I.  Work by John DePol, 1931-1997

 

1                      Series I.1.  Early Artwork, 1931-1967

The material in this series maintains the subject categories and arrangement created by DePol.

 

Artwork from the 1930s, 1931-1939

Arranged by medium, then chronologically.  Information written on the artwork is included in the note

 

F1        Watercolors, 1935-1939

1.  Pier 43. N.R., 1935 Jul 6

2.  “It is cool not warm.  Looking west/south from foot of W. Wash. Market Pier.  N.R. 7/7/35 a.m.  It is cloudy – sometimes the sun appears.” 1935 Jul 7

3.  Colt Pistol in My Possession – circa 1850, 1936 Jul 25

Inscribed:  “Bad coloring – did this because saw same type of water colors, though of different objects which were excellently done – and interesting.  My first try is not so good.” Plus a drawing of the colt.

4.  Manfred’s Studio, 1936 Oct 3

Inscribed:  “50 Wash. Square South.  WPA artist, a fairly good one.  Though I could never see any purpose in the government supporting artists.  And I guess there is little chance of them ever amounting to much.  As for this drawing – it is pretty bad – for the reason that I have no patience – but that is a bad excuse – because if any one has patience he can be sure of doing most anything.  But again– one often hears of amateurs [?] profess their lack of patience which hinders a particular accomplishment.  But again I am wrong – I don’t have the patience to decide whether I am or not.”

5.  Covered Bridge – Vermont, 1937 Jul

Inscribed:  “from pleasant memories of my vacation in 1936 – near Townshend, Vt..  For years I had wanted to see a covered bridge – and so enthusiastic was I that I inquired often “where may they be found?”  Then in 1936 I saw many of them.  And then for some reason I was not so eager – a question – “What really am I looking for?”  But covered bridges are beautiful and tonight as I sit home – and in a rare mood for have finished a Fewales – I wish that I were near one.”

6.  Imaginative, 1937 Jul 26

7.  Mark Twain House and Hotel Brevoort – New York, 1937 Jun 26

8.  “North River Scene,”1937 Aug 14

“Kids swimming – Manhattan, N.Y. – sketched and colored from memory”

9.  At Home [vase], 1939 Feb 7

Series I.  Work by John DePol (cont’d)

Series I.1.  Early Artwork (cont’d)

Artwork from the 1930s (cont’d)

1

Pencil or pen and ink drawings, 1931-1938

F2        1931-1935

1.  “Empire Brewery” – Beadleston & Woerz – Washington & Tenth    Streets, New York City, 1931 Nov 1

2.  [Mc]Sorley’s Ale House, 1935 Jun 2 (P.M.)

3.  Looking North – Beach & Hudson Sts. – N.Y. (St. John’s Park), 1935       Jul 7

4.  My mother, 1935 Jul 24 (P.M.)  Plus copy: “copy/1998/DePol/10”

5.  August 11, 1935 – from memory, New York, 1935 Aug 11

6.  River St. – Hoboken, N. J., 1935 Aug 17 (A.M.)

7.  Brooklyn Bridge – From Recreation Pier – N.Y., 1935 Aug 17 (P.M.)

8.  Fifth Avenue from Central Park, 1935 Aug 21 (P.M.)

9.  Christopher Street Ferry Slips – from Pier 43 – N.R. N.Y., 1935 Sep 21     (5:50)

10.  First sketches of an etching press that I would like to make, 1935 Oct        3

Includes a list of hardware needed

11.  Christopher & [?] Sts., 1935 Oct 13 (5:30 p.)

12.  McSorley’s Old Ale House – Est. 1852 – 157^th St. – N.Y.C., 1935 Oct   27

“Close to closing time and the bartender want to go to a wedding – so will not be able to finish this

13.  Perry & Wash. Sts. N.Y.C., 1935 Nov 3 (4:00 p)

14.  Back of Trinity Church – N.Y.C., 1935 Nov 5 (11:05 a.m.)

15.  Franklin and West Sts. – New York City, 1935 Nov 28 (P.M.)

Includes a long note expressing his disappointment with the drawing

16.  My sister Genevieve studying – my brother Willie eating and reading – and Minnie our cat at home 7:45 p., 1935 Dec 4.  Plus a copy, 1998.

Series I.  Work by John DePol (cont’d)

Series I.1.  Early Artwork (cont’d)

Artwork from the 1930s (cont’d)

1

F3        1936

17.  Looking North from Roof of 455 Hudson St. N.Y.C. Sunday, 1936          Mar 15

18.  East River, 1936 May 3

19.  West & Franklin Sts. N.Y.C. – Sunday 11:00 a.m., 1936 May 3

20.  Bank & Washington Sts. N.Y.C. – Sunday, 1936 May 10

21.  Peck Slip – New York City – Sunday, 1936 May 17 (5:00 P)

22.  From Walker & Lafayette Streets – N.Y.C., 1936 Jun 7

23.  North River – Pier being dismantled Saturday afternoon – New York City, 1936 Jun 13 - “Storm coming from East – 3:45 P.”

24.  Craigville Station “Erie” – Craigville, N.Y., 1936 Jun 21

“Sketched on motor trip with Karl & Willie.”

25.  Chessmen and Onlookers – Central Park, 1936 Jul 19

26.  Lower East Side – New York City, 1936 Aug 1

27.  South & Jefferson Streets, N.Y.C., 1936 Aug 9

28.  Burlington, Vt., 1936 Aug 17

29.  Hudson River – N.Y. – from memory, 1936 Oct 31
Series I.  Work by John DePol (cont’d)

Series I.1.  Early Artwork (cont’d)

Artwork from the 1930s (cont’d)

1

Pencil or pen and ink drawings (cont’d)

F4        1937

30.  Weehawken Street – Manhattan, 1937 May 16

31.  West Street – between 10^th & Christopher Sts, New York City, 1937       May 16

32.  St. Raphael’s from 40^th St. Manhattan, 1937 May 22

33.  Downtown – Manhattan, 1937 Jul 31

34.  Beadleston and Woerz’s Empire Brewery 1878, 1937 Aug 7

“Now being razed – made the preliminary pencil sketch a few days ago – returned today to finish with ink and found that the clock tower (with flag pole) had been taken down – so had to put in from memory.  Tenth – between West and Washington Streets – Manhattan, N.Y.”

35.  Beadleston and Woerz Empire Brewery 1878 – Tenth & Washington Sts., N.Y.,1937 Aug 8

36.  Watts & Washington Sts–Manhattan–N.Y.–Looking Southwest, 1937       Aug 15

37.  Tower of Church of Our Lady of Pompei – Carmine & Bleecker Streets – Manhattan, 1937 Sep 11

 

F5        1938

38.  Civic Repertory – 14^th St. – N.Y., 1938, Feb 6

39.  Untitled [New York], 1938 Mar 20

40.  Civic Repertory, 14^th St. – N.Y., 1938 Apr 3

“Drawn from life” plus photocopies

41.  “Summer in Vermont,” 1938 Apr

“Sketch for etching – 4 x 6 – Done at home from memory of my vacation in 1936 – covered wooden bridge over the Wescott?  Near Newfane – slept in a campsite nearby on the left – and nearly froze to death – though early next morning it was sunny and went for a swim before heading north – I experienced an unusually fine exhilaration – the finest ever and I hope again for more.”

42.  Vermont vacation in 1936 – from memory, 1938

 

F6        Lithograph - Art Student’s League – Etching Studio (negative), 1938 Mar

Nos. 1 and 3 of 3 lithographs

Series I.  Work by John DePol (cont’d)

Series I.1.  Early Artwork (cont’d)

 

1                      Artwork from the 1940s, 1940-1949

 

F7        Pencil or pen and ink drawings, 1940-1949

1.  DePol and Critics – Hudson River – from memory, 1940 Jan

2.  Southfields, N.Y., 1940 Jul 16

3.  Southfields, N.Y., 1940 Jul 28

Verso: “Southfields, N.Y., 41 miles from N.Y.C. on Erie Mainline – sketched from tracks looking west – Sunday – July 28, 1940.”

4.  MacDougal Alley, N.Y., 1942 Jul

5.  Starlight, PA., 1946 Aug

6.  Mid-town Manhattan, 1947

7.  West side – Manhattan, 1947

8.  9^th & 3^rd Ave., 1949 Jul 3

9.  Greenwich Street – South of 11^th St. – Looking West – Greenwich Village – NewYork, 1949 Jul 9

10.  43^rd St. & Eleventh Avenue, N.Y., 1949 Labor Day

11.  [Loewer’s Brewery], 1949 Sep

12.  Southeast Corner of Washington Square, 1949 Dec 22

13.  [Southeast Corner of Washington Square, 1949]

 

F8        Wash drawings, 1941-1943

1.  Untitled “from memory’ [New York waterfront], 1941 Nov 23

2.  Election Night, 1942 Sep 29

“Scene of Barrow St. from Hudson St., New York as might be seen on an election night (done at home from memory).”

3.  Scene of Christopher St. – Hudson Riverfront – Manhattan, 1942 Oct 1

“Showing St. Veronica’s Church – Towers of Empire Brewery (now gone) Federal Building – Ferry House on left – Barrow St. in front – done strictly from memory.” Plus a note describing the scene and residents

4.  Derelicts – Hudson Riverfront – New York, 1942

5.  Card game in pyramidal tent – Waiterboro, S.C., 1943 Jul 2

Series I.  Work by John DePol (cont’d)

Series I.1.  Early Artwork (cont’d)

 

1                      Artwork from the 1940s (cont’d)

 

F9        Watercolors, 1940-1947

1.  Hudson River waterfront near Greenwich Village, 1940 Apr

“Drawn from memory”

2.  Hudson River front, 1940 May

3.  Vase – unfinished because of loss of texture, 1940 Aug

4.  Hudson River, 1941 Nov 11

5.  Tent at Waiterboro, S.C., 1943 Jun

6.  Waiterboro, S.C., 1943 Jun

7.  Astoria – Long Island, 1946

8.  East River – 43 St., New York, 1947 Aug

9.  West 12^th Street, N.Y., 1947 Aug 31

 

F10      Oil Colors [Untitled – Hudson River Front], ca. 1941

With separate note by DePol

 

F11      Dry Brush - Two Candlesticks, 1948 Mar 18

 

F12      Lithograph - Sunday Morning – Manhattan, 1940

Two prints from an edition of 4

Series I.  Work by John DePol (cont’d)

Series I.1.  Early Artwork (cont’d)

 

2                      “Early Wash Drawings” 1943-1944

Includes DePol’s handwritten list of these wash drawings.  Most of the drawings are in numbered paper mats.  The items with an asterisk (*) are listed but not present in the collection.

F13      List of drawings

F14      1.  The Diamond, Magherafelt 1943 Nov 1

F15      2.  Draperstown [Barony of Loughinshollin-County of Londonderry-Northern Ireland] 1943 Nov

F16      3.  A Town – Somewhere in Northern Ireland 1943 Oct

F17      4.  Magherafelt No. 1 1943 Nov

F18      5.  Magherafelt No. 2 1943 Oct

F19      6.  Town of Kickeel, Northern Ireland 1943

F20      7.  Repairing a thatched roof – Somewhere in Northern Ireland 1944

F21      8.  Gatekeepers House – Somewhere in Northern Ireland 1944

F22      9.  Stormy Lakeside – Northern Ireland 1943 Nov

*10.  [A Night – Nissen Hut – Somewhere in Northern Ireland 1944

F23      11.  A Nissen Hut [in Northern Ireland – 1944]

F24      12.  Pub in Country – Northern Ireland 1943 Nov

F25      13.  Somewhere in Northern Ireland No. 1  1943 Oct

F26      14.  Somewhere in Northern Ireland No. 2  1944

F27      15.  Somewhere in Northern Ireland No. 3  1944

F28      16.  Somewhere in Northern Ireland No. 4  1944

F29      17.  Somewhere in Northern Ireland No.5  1944

F30      18.  Somewhere in Northern Ireland No. 6  1944

F31      19.  Somewhere in Northern Ireland No. 7  1944

F32      20.  Somewhere in Northern Ireland No. 8  1944

F33      21.  Somewhere in Northern Ireland No. 9  1944

F34      22.  Somewhere in Northern Ireland No. 10  1944

F35      23.  Northern Ireland No. 1  1943 Nov

F36      24.  Northern Ireland No. 2  1943 Nov

*25.  [From Memory – Guard at the Bomb Dump – Airfield at ___ -    Northern Ireland]

F37      26.  Mourne Mountains from Greencastle  1943 Nov

F38      27.  Impression – The Town of MoneyGlass – Northern Ireland  1943

F39      28.  John Darby’s Old House in Aughrim – Northern Ireland  1944

*29.  [Carrickfergus]

Series I.  Work by John DePol (cont’d)

Series I.1.  Early Artwork (cont’d)

 

3                      Artwork created during World War II, 1944-1945

Arranged by country

 

F40      France, 1945

 

Ink and/or pencil drawings

1.  Paris, 1945 Aug

2.  Rue du Pelican – Paris, 1945

3.  Rue du Pelican – Paris, 1945 Aug 6

4.  Paris – My window in the Grand Hotel, 1945 Aug 6

5.  Domjulien, 1945 Mar 19

6.  Rue Brahaut – Vittel, 1945 Feb 23

7.  Rue de la Brahaut – Vittel – in France, 1945 Mar 6

8.  Rue de la Brahaut – Vittel – France, 1945 Feb 25

9.  Place des Veilles Halles (Place of the Old Halls) – Vittel, France, 1945        Feb 16

10.  Rue de Petit Ban – Vittel – France, 1945 Feb

11.  Rue de Petit Ban – Vittel, 1945 Feb 24

12.  Vittel – France, 1945 Mar 8

13.  Vittel – haute Vosges – France, 1945 Feb 25

14.  Scene in Vittel – Haute Vosges – France, 1945 Feb 17

“Sketched on scene in pencil – finished in ink at Recreation Club, Vittel”

15.  Gemmelaincourt – Vosages – in France, 1945 Mar 25

16.  The Church in Parey sous Monfort – Vosges, 1945 Mar 14

17.  Parey sous Montfort – Vosges - in France, 194[5] Mar 14

18.  Parey sous Montfort – Vosges, 1945 Mar 16

19.  Belmont – Vosges – France, 1945 Mar 3

20.  St. Remimont – Vosges – France, 1945 Mar 6

21.  St. Remimont – Vosges, 1945

Untitled drawing on the verso

22.  [Vittel?], n.d.

23.  [Vittel?], n.d.

24.  “France,” n.d.

Two pencil drawings

Series I.  Work by John DePol (cont’d)

Series I.1.  Early Artwork (cont’d)

Artwork created during World War II (cont’d)

France (cont’d)

3

F40                  Watercolors

1.  St. Remimont – Vosges, 1945 Mar 3

2.  Parey sous Montfort – in France, 1945 Mar 18

 

Wash drawings

1.  Domjulien – Vosges, 1945 Mar 18

2.  Rue Deligneville – Vittel, 1945 Feb 25

3.  ADC’s Office – Vittel – Haute – Vosges, 1945

On the verso: “Our ‘office’ in Vittel – our last stop before going into Germany – at left is table with GI phone – at right is GI stove – Fueled with logs – my GI can on stove warming coffee – it was January 1944 – cold & wet – wash drawing – N.F.S.”

 

F41      Switzerland, 1945

Watercolors

1.  Stadt Haus Platz – Interlaken, 1945 Sep

2.  Hof Strasse – Lucerne, 1945 Sep

 

F42      Germany, 1945

Ink and pencil drawings

1.  Keuebeurn, 1945 May 20

With untitled pencil drawing on verso

2.  Kirchenstrasse – Dillingen, Germany, 1945 May 5

Series I.  Work by John DePol (cont’d)

Series I.1.  Early Artwork (cont’d)

Artwork created during World War II (cont’d)

 

3          F43      England, 1944-1945

 

Ink and pencil drawings

1.  Whites Row E – Bishopgate – London, 1945 Jan 4

2.  Wesminster Abbey – London, 1945 Jan 16

3.  Stone’s Old Chop House – Near Piccadilly – London, 1945

4.  St. Martins in the Fields – London, 1945

5.  Untitled pencil drawings of Nissen huts (both sides)

 

Watercolors

1.  Stone’s Old Chop House – London, 1945

2.  Cripplegate – London, 1944 (Painted Aug 1946)

 

Wash drawings

1.  Somewhere in England, 1944 Nov

2.  England, 1944 Nov

3.  The “RAF” Goes Over – An Airfield in England, 1945

4.  Scottish Highland – An Impression, 1944

5.  Rocket Bomb Hit – London, 1945 (sketched from memory)

6.  An English Airfield – Impression, 1945 Jan 2

7.  “Home” – Nissen Hut – England, 1945 Jan 6

“Hut 17 – Site 8 – My “sack” is lower bunk on right.”

8.  London, 1945 Jan 18

“Sketched from a memory of a walk around Cripplegate – St. Giles’ Church – and Whitbreads Brewery – 18 Jan 1945”

9.  London – a Composition, 1945

10.  Mess Hall – an Airfield in England, 1945

 

F44      Luxembourg – ink drawings, 1945

1.  Luxembourg, 1945 May 24

2.  Luxembourg City, 1946

“Drawn in 1946 from original sketch made in Luxembourg May 1945”

Series I.  Work by John DePol (cont’d)

Series I.1.  Early Artwork (cont’d)

 

4                      Artwork related to Ireland, 1943-1947

Includes some watercolors, drawings and lithographs created during DePol’s military service in Ireland during World War II, as well as drawings completed during a visit to Ireland in 1947.  Includes watercolors, pencil drawings, ink and pencil drawings, wash drawings, and lithographs

 

F45      Watercolors, 1943-1947

1.  Castle Dawson (Moyola Park in back of me) .Ireland, 1943 Aug

2.  Castle Dawson – Northern Ireland – (in England), 1944 Nov

3.  Ireland, 1944

4.  Somewhere in Northern Ireland, 1944

5.  Somewhere in Northern Ireland, 1944

6.  Distillery at Ballyronan – N. Ireland, 1944 (Done at home–ca. 1947)

7.  Somewhere in Northern Ireland, 1944 Feb

8.  Somewhere in Northern Ireland, 1944

9.  “Flack’s Old House” – Near Aughrim – Northern Ireland, 1944

10.  Untitled – [Toomebridge Aerodrome – Northern Ireland], n.d.

See #4 in 1943-1946 pencil & ink drawings

 

Pencil and ink drawings, 1943-1946

F46      1.  Card Game – in a hut – N. Ireland, 1943 Aug 16

Includes inscription: “Dearest Wife – It was like this – I went into the latrine this afternoon to wash up – and after I finished and got outside I found that my wallet was missing…..”

2.  “PFC DePol – Air Corps” – Somewhere in Northern Ireland, 1943 Aug

3.  Billet at an Aerodrome – Somewhere in Northern Ireland, 1944

4.  Toomebridge Aerodrome, N. Ireland, 1943-1944

5.  Upper Arthur Street – Belfast – Looking at Chichester Road, 1943 Sep

6.  Carrickfergus Castle – Northern Ireland, 1943 Sep 25

Inscribed: “unfinished because of rain”

7.  Promenade – Carrickfergus – N. Ireland, 1943 Sep 25

8.  Carrickfergus Castle – N. Ireland, 1943

Inscribed: “Made from the original sketch which I made on the spot in Ireland – John H. DePol, Sept. 1946 – 269 W. 12^th St. New York 14, NY – ‘Fond Memories’”

9.  Northern Ireland (from memory), 1944

10.  Northern Ireland, 1943

11.  Somewhere in Northern Ireland, 1944

12.  Kilkeel – Northern Ireland, 1943

Series I.  Work by John DePol (cont’d)

Series I.1.  Early Artwork (cont’d)

Artwork related to Ireland (cont’d)

Pencil and ink drawings (cont’d)

 

4          F46      13.  In the Sperrin Mountains – Ulster, 1944

Inscribed:  “A view of the Junction of the Goles – Glenelly & Plum Rivers – I fished near the bridge – sketched from memory”

14.  Greencastle – Mourne Mountains, 1944

15.  Northern Ireland, 1946 Aug

Inscribed: “From an original sketch which I made in Ireland sometime in 1943-44”

16.  Repairing Thatched House – Northern Ireland, 1944 Jan

17.  Thatching a Roof – N. Ireland, 1944

Inscribed: “Made from an original sketch, John H. DePol, Sept. 1946” and pencil drawing on the verso

18.  Thatching a Cottage – N. Ireland, 1944

 

F47      Wash drawings - Landscape in Northern Ireland, 1943 Nov

 

F48      Lithographs, 1944-1947

1.  Central Belfast, 1944 (edition of 11)

On verso: “Lithograph – “Central Belfast” – Drawn directly on zinc plate from the litho class at the School of Technology in Belfast, 1944 – N.F.S.”

2.  Near the River Front in Belfast, 1947

One print signed in the block

 

F49      “Pencil Sketches, 1947”

1.  Stanhope St. – Belfast, 1947 Oct

2.  College Court – Belfast, 1947 Oct

3. Old Toll House – Belfast, 1947

4.  Belfast, 1947 Oct

5.  Mowhan St. – Belfast, 1947 Oct 1

6.  Memel St. – Belfast, n.d.

7.  Dixon’s Place – Limerick, [1947] Oct

8.  Dixon’s Place – Limerick, 1947 Oct 19

9.  St. John’s Cathedral – Limerick, 1947

10.  St. Mary’s Church – Limerick, 1947 Oct

11.  McGonigle’s Cottage, n.d.

12.  Fownes St. Lower – Dublin, 1947 Sep 29

13.  Untitled [Ireland street], n.d.

Series I.  Work by John DePol (cont’d)

Series I.1.  Early Artwork (cont’d)

Artwork related to Ireland (cont’d)

 

4          F50      Pen and ink drawings, 1947

Many of these were made from original pencil sketches found in the previous group of drawings.

1.  Mongret Street Section – Limerick, 1947

2.  Mongret Street – Limerick, 1947 Oct

3.  Old Buildings – Limerick, 1947 Oct

“Irish Town – Limerick”

4.  Limerick – Gate leading to St. Mary’s Cathedral, 1947 Oct 19

5.  Thomond Bridge & King John’s Castle – Limerick, 1947

6.  Limerick – Eire, 1947

7.  Dickson’s Place, 1947 Nov

Inscribed:  “Dickson’s – or Dixon’s – Place – in Limerick – Irish Free State – This scene is in slum section – to right of gate in middle right distance is railroad station – this drawing was made from sketch which was made at the scene in Oct. 1947”

8.  Limerick, 1947

Inscribed:  “Nov. 1947 taken from sketch made at scene in October 1947 – St. John’s – Irishtown – Limerick – Eire.”

9.  St. John’s – Limerick, 1947 Oct

10.  Limerick, 1947 (Somewhere in Limerick – 1947 Oct)

11.  St. Mary’s Cathedral – Limerick, 1947

12.  Limerick, 1947 Oct

13.  From Albert Bridge – Belfast, 1947 Oct

14.  Pound Street – Belfast – Northern Ireland, 1947 Oct

15.  From Queen’s Bridge – Belfast, 1947 Oct

16.  City Hall – Belfast, 1947 Oct

17.  Millfield St. – Belfast, 1947

Inscribed:  “This drawing made from original sketch made at scene on October 8, 1947.  November 30, 1947 DePol”

18.  Belfast, 1947

19.  Fall’s Ward – Belfast, 1947

20.  Belfast, 1947 Oct

21.  Bloody Foreland – County Donegal, 1947

22.  Untitled [Ireland]

23.  “Antique pistol – purchased from old man Rankin in Limavady – Northern Ireland – for 5 shillings – October 1947”

Series I.  Work by John DePol (cont’d)

Series I.1.  Early Artwork (cont’d)

 

5                      “Dry Brush Drawings” – Ireland, 1947-1948

Made during 1947-1948 at home in Astoria, Queens, New York, taken from sketches make in Ireland in 1947.  Each is titled, signed and dated by DePol.  A typed list was created by DePol and the items are housed in numbered paper mats.  Missing items have an asterisk (*).

 

F51      List and items 1-9

1.  Limerick No. 1 1947

2.  Limerick No. 2 (same scene, higher elevation) 1947

3.  Old Building, Belfast (about same scene for w/o Lonely Corner) 1947

4.  From Queens Bridge, Belfast waterfront 1948

*5.  [Gate to St. Mary’s Cathedral – Limerick 1947]

6.  Dixon’s Place, Limerick 1947

7.  Mongret Street No. 1 (Mongret Street, Irishtown, Limerick 1947)

8.  Mongret Street No. 2 1947

9.  Back Street, Limerick 1947

 

F52      Items 11-24

*10.  [O’Connell Street Bridge, Dublin 1947]

11.  From Albert Bridge, Belfast, Northern Ireland 1947

Back: “East Bridge junction – Belfast railroad yard”

12.  Stanhope Street, Belfast 1947

13.  Pound Street, Belfast 1947 (also made in a w/o Repairing a Chimney)        1947

14.  From Hotel Glentworth window, Limerick 1947

15.  Toomebridge Railroad Station 1948

16.  Toll House, Belfast 1947

17.  The Square, Belfast 1947

18.  The Ulster Vaults, Belfast 1947

19.  Mowhan Street, Belfast 1947

*20.  [Balmoral Railway Station (also a wood engraving)]

*21.  [McGonigles Cottage, Belfast 1947 (also a wood engraving)]

22.  Irishtown No. 1, Limerick 1947

23.  Irishtown No. 2, Limerick 1947

24.  Factory Distict, Belfast 1947

*25.  [Old Houses in Limerick (Dixon’s Place)]

 

Series I.  Work by John DePol (cont’d)

Series I.1.  Early Artwork (cont’d)

 

6                      Artwork from the 1950s, 1960s and undated material, 1950-1967

 

F53      Artwork – 1950s

 

Pencil or pen and ink drawings

1.  Sullivan St. & 3^rd St. – Greenwich Village, 1950 Jan

2.  160 Maiden Lane – Burten Book Magazine Dist. Co., 1950 Jul 4

3.  W. 12^th St. – N.Y.C., 1950 Aug 18

4.  [Beekman St. – New York], ca. 1950

5.  [Beekman St. – New York], ca. 1950

6.  39 & 6 – N.Y., [1950]

7.  St. Thomas – Sideview – 53^rd & 5^th Ave. – N.Y.C., 1951 Jul 8

Includes a separate sheet with information about the drawing

8.  On St. Charles St. – N.Y.C. – Looking West from Hudson St. – Greenwich Village, 1951 Jul 14

9.  Bowery – N.Y., 1951 Jul 20

10.  New Construction in the Old Village, 1951 Aug 4

11.  Village, 1951 Aug 5

12.  In Old Chelsea, 1951 Aug 18

On the verso: “Chelsea Park – N.Y.C.,” 1951 Aug 18

13.  New Preston, CT, 1952 Aug 17

14.  New Preston, 1952 Aug 17

 

F54      Artwork - 1960s

Pencil drawings

1.  Looking West from Washington St. between Cortlandt & Dey Sts. – center building is Old O’Connell’s Bar & Restaurant Bldg., 1966 Oct

2.  West St. – NR 36^th St, 1967 Aug 12

 

F55      Undated artwork

Some of the works are also unidentified.  Includes pencil or pen and ink drawings, and watercolors

1.  Colts Patent No. 17915 – Collection of John H. DePol.

2.  Unidentified house with foliage

3.  [New York City]

4.  Hudson River Front – about 10^th St.

5.  Unidentified farm scene

6.  [Shehawken House] – Railroad station

 

Series I.  Work by John DePol (cont’d)

 

Series I.2.  Etched copper & zinc plates, 1936-1947

Some the plates were assigned numbers by DePol and have extensive notes on the housing.  The notes are included here.  The unnumbered plates have any information available and if no information was present, the image on the plate is described.

 

7          F56      No. 15  Outhouse at Southfields, N.Y., 1941 – 20 ed. – Etching on copper

F57      No. 17  Derelicts – Hudson River Front – 1942 – on zinc.

“Edition is indicated as 11 impressions.  Have plate, it shows some corrosion.  I like it, and wonder if it will be all right to reprint.  Plate made in 1942.  JD – 9/8/1996.  It was my custom to sign prints in ink.  All those made from overseas sketches were done in 1946 and 1947.  These were signed in pencil.  Dates directly after title indicate the year the sketch was made.”

F58      No. 18  “Pig Alley” – Hudson River Front – 1942 – 12 imp – s – JHD

F59      No. 21  St. Martin’s in the Fields, London – 1944 – 1/12 edition? – etching      on zinc 1947

F60      No. 22  Bomb Hit, Piccadilly, London, 1944

“Made in 1947 from sketch – One of my favorites.  Still have a few prints.  Have just cleaned up plate.  JD 9/7/1996”

F61      No. 23  Cripplegate, London – 1944 – Etching on copper made in 1947

F62      No. 24  Kilkeel, County Down – 1944 – Etching on zinc 1947

F63      No. 25  Kilkeel II, Northern Ireland – 1944 (date I made sketch)

“Have plate.  It was made in 1946 [Etched in 1947 – zinc]  “Edition ? – 10-15? - Four prints left – 1 framed – 2 prints made in Oct. 1996.  Just fair.  On my small press.”  “One print I have is indicated as 10.  Don’t know if this was the amount of edition or No. of print.  My edition reporting was erratic, due to inability to give time to print a full edition.  JD 9/8/1966”

F64      No. 26  Northern Ireland (Aughrim plate) – 1944 – Etching on zinc 1947

F65      No. 27  The Old Distillery at Ballyronan – Northern Ireland – 1944 –    Etching on zinc 1947

F66      No. 28  Repairing a Thatched Roof (Northern Ireland) – on zinc – Etching made in 1947 after sketch of 1944

F67      No. 30  Monastery Church, Parey-sous-Montfort, Haute Vosges

“Very well done plate and proof pulled, somewhere in 1946-47.  JD 9/7/1996”

F68      No. 31  Place des Vieilles Halles, Vittel – 1945 – etching on copper 1947

Edition 10?

F69      No. 32  Domjulien – Haute Vosges – Edition 12 – Inventory 7

F70      *[No. 33  Rue Brahaut – Vittel – Haute Vosges – 1945 – Etching on zinc         1947 – 8 edition?]

Plate is missing, only housing is present

Series I.  Work by John DePol (cont’d)

Series I.2.  Etched copper & zinc plates (cont’d)

 

7          F71      No. 34  Rue de Petit Ban – Vittel – Haute Vosges – 1945 – Etching on                                                 copper             made 1947

“Have plate – Prints:  Ed.?  Have 5 prints 1947, numbered to 5”

F72      No. 35  Rue Wiltheim – Luxembourg – 1945 – Etching on zinc – 1947

F73      No. 36  “Near Dungiven” – Landscape, N. Ireland – on zinc

“Remember that I have only a couple of these prints.  Don no know any of the details.  Believe I had trouble printing it.  Must find these two prints for details.  Believe it was made at the time of all the others, from a drawing I made in Ireland, when I returned for overseas in1945.  Made 1946 or 1947, which became the end of my etching period.  Have cleaned plate.  JD 9/7/1966”

 

Unnumbered plates

F74      Searchlights over Manhattan.  [2copper plates and 1 zinc plate], [1940]

“Probably made about 1940 or thereabouts and not of the “overseas series” 1946-47 which used sketches made from overseas.  There were searchlights over Manhattan often.  We had our blackouts in wartime.  I was an auxiliary Lt. in the Fires Department, patrolling streets when we heard sirens signal the alarm.  Do not remember having a proof of this.  It is on copper.  JD 9/7/1966”  “Strange.  I have just found another copper plate very similar.  It seems not as well bitten as first I found.  And has some scarring on two edges.  Did I abandon this to do another for that reason?  Don’t know.  Have no proofs.  JD  9/8”

F75      Wife and Husband on Bench on Right, on Road in Northern Ireland –   Etching on zinc

“Made ?  probably early 1940 – prints?  JD 0/8/1996”

F76      A Village Backyard – Etching on copper – Made ?

“Unprinted to date – JD 9/8/1996”

F77      Landscape (Northern Ireland) – An etching on copper – Made ?

“No prints – JD 9/8/1996”

F78      St. Remimont, Haute Vosges – 1944 – Etching on copper – 1946

“No edition to date – no proof – JD 9/8/1996”

F79      Thatching, N. Ireland – Etching on zinc – 1947

F80      Cross Street, Old Houses/West Side – Etching on copper – signed in plate

                         – DePol 1941

“Recognize the scene, but do not recollect doing it.  Nor printing it, JD 9/9/1996”

 

Series I.  Work by John DePol (cont’d)

Series I.2.  Etched copper & zinc plates (cont’d)

 

7          F81      Landlord’s House, on zinc - 6 x 8, [1946-1947]

“I do not recall making this plate, had to be 1946-47.  I know the subject well, it was a sketch, then a lithograph made in Belfast 1944.  It was on a road outside of Toomebridge Aerodrome.  I had walked to the door of the first house, a small one, remembered that the curtains in the windows were unkempt, rang the bell, the door opened slightly, a murmur of sorts in reply, and then shut.  The house above, the Landlord’s was in ruins.  Someone had told me it belonged to a landlord.  A forlorn scene, but an interesting one.  I don not have a proof of this, probably none was pulled.  One of several not yet proofed.  Now fifty years have gone by, and I am anxious to do so.  JD 9/8/1996”

F82      Gemmelaincourt, Haute Vosges – 1945 – Etching on copper – DePol (in           plate)

“From an on the scene sketch.  Nor sure what 1945 indicates, year of sketch or ? when plate was made?  Couln’t be, I had just returned from overseas on December 22, 1945.  Probably etched in 1946.  Do not even remember a print.  That will be remedied soon.  JD 9/6/1996”

F83      “Fall’s Ward, Belfast” – copper, etching

“Have just discovered this plate in the past several days.  I had done a lithograph of it, the view from the lithography class of the College of Art, School of Technology in Belfast.  Have only recently written that when I/ there in 1944 I had worked directly on the zinc plate sitting in the window.  A charwoman in the class had paused to watch and we talked for a little while, I remember.  I have not seen a proof o this to this point.  JD 9/7/1996”

F84      Draperstown, Northern Ireland – 1943-44

“Remembered the town well, and fondly, for its pleasant prospect.  Walked around it.  Made a sketch, this view.  And remembered making a watercolor of it and gave it to someone, here stateside.  To whom I do not now recall.  It was not too far from my section in Toomebridge.  Do not recall making this etching.  Has to be 1946-47, when I had made the bulk of them, most all from overseas sketches.  We lived in Astoria, in Queens, Long Island, New York.  “Ugly teeming Astoria,” quoting Time magazine.  We found it all right.  It was our first apartment.  Thelma says I used to go to town every Saturday.  That is when I worked on etching in my mother’s apartment on 12^th Street and then go to the Art Student’s League where I would print the plates.  I do not recall having printed this plate.  Now look forward to it.  JD 9/8/96

Series I.  Work by John DePol (cont’d)

Series I.2.  Etched copper & zinc plates (cont’d)

 

7          F85      Toomebridge Aerodrome (Toome, N. Ireland) – on zinc – Made in 1946

“Communal site – Mess hall, PX &c.  Too lightly “bitten” (with acid).  JD 9/7/1996”

F86      Lady & Child in Doorway, N. Ireland – zinc plate – 1946-7

F87      Chipping Ongar Aerodrome, 1944

“Very strange indeed…Today, September 8, 1996, have been going through old plates to clean and identify them and found this etching, still coated with dark brown liquid ground I had put it away with fifty years ago, 1946-47, when I was making all those etching from overseas sketches.  It is on zinc, regrettably not copper, for it has developed some scar marks along the lower horizon.  We will see in the proofing.  I do not recall making it at all.  Strange, indeed, for several years ago working from the same sketch I had made a wood engraving of the scene which I made in an edition of prints, one of which was sent to the National Academy for their biennial exhibition.  I had given a number away and one went to the Bodleian Library in Oxford which later used it as an illustration in their Friends Letter with a description of it I had written.  Fascinating!  Now to see if it will print.  JD”  Plus two proofs – one labeled “1^st proof”

F88      Riverfront scene:  signed in plate DePol 1942

“Corner store is mark Bar.  Three figures within!  Do not recall.  Do not remember if it was printed.  JD 9/7/96”

F89      “Street in Switzerland” – 1946

“The old wrapping on this zinc plate read “Street in Switzerland.” I remember it well.  Not this plate for I have just washed from its face, with paint thinner and old brown wax, probably liquid ground, which I had recoated with it for further work, but the trip there on furlough at the end of the war.  I started this plate in 1946 after I had returned from the service, using one of the many sketches made overseas.  I fear it is too lightly bitten and will now show up.  Will try it shortly.  I do not recall having done this.  But recognized