Details
Title Schell, Francis H.
Date ca. 1831-March 31, 1909
Description Francis H. Schell, born in 1831 in Philadelphia, and most known as a periodical illustrator, also worked as a lithographic artist in Philadelphia during the 1850s and 1860s. Listed as a lithographer as of the 1850 census, Schell came from a large family with seven brothers and sisters involved in the professions of currier, grocer, clerk, and stone cutter. During the early 1850s, Schell often worked with William H. Rease on advertisements printed by Alphonse Brett and Thomas Sinclair as well as formed a short-lived partnership with Rease ca. 1855. He also drew cityscape views in addition to portraits printed by Wagner & McGuigan. During the Civil War, Schell refocused his art work to periodical illustrations for "Frank Leslies Illustrated Weekly," although in 1865, he drew the design for the lithograph "In Commemoration of the Great Parade of the Philadelphia Fire Department October 16th 1865." Following the war, he assumed supervision of the art department of the weekly and later entered a long term partnership with fellow illustrator Thomas Hogan through the 1880s. During the 1860s, Schell's worked proved profitable and in 1870 he held a personal estate of $6,000 and had a servant at his household in 1870 and 1880. Schell died March 31, 1909 while residing with his son at 5227 Archer Street in Germantown and was probably buried at the Odd Fellows Cemetery, the place of internment of his wife. He remained listed in city directories as an artist until the year of his death.
Schell lived in Philadelphia most of his life, except for a brief time in Camden, N.J. around 1860. Residences included the Northern Liberties Ward 4 in 1850 and by 1870, a dwelling at 1641 North Eighth Street in which he lived through the 1880s. Schell was married to Martha (b. ca. 1838) with whom he had several children, including son, the artist Frank Cresson Schell (1857-1942).
Is part of Philadelphia on Stone Biographical Dictionary of Lithographers
References See Brett, Alponse; Duval, P. S.; Rease, W. H. ; Sinclair, Thomas; and Wagner & McGuigan
Call number Philadelphia on Stone Biographical Dictionary of Lithographers
Bibliographic citation Census 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880
Groce & Wallace, 561
Peters, 358
Philadelphia Business and City Directories, 1856-1909 (intermittently)
Philadelphia Inquirer, November 2, 1904
Philadelphia Inquirer, April 3, 1909