Walter ShirlawAmerican, 1838–1909Toning the Bell
Can I see it?
Not on view at present
Where is “Toning the Bell” now? Collection: Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago. Not on view at present. Checked September 29, 2026.
Chicago, United States
It belongs to the collection, but is not on display at present.
- Checked
- In this state since
- Source
- The museum
About the painting
Like many artists of his generation, Walter Shirlaw furthered his training in Europe, studying at the Royal Academy in Munich. German instruction focused on a dark, painterly realism and was steeped in an astute understanding of aesthetic traditions. In Toning the Bell, executed during his student years and now considered his best-known work, the artist demonstrated an accomplished Munich style, featuring noble peasants, a limited tonal palette, and strong contrasts of light and dark. Prior to his time abroad, Shirlaw had worked in Chicago and helped establish the Chicago Academy of Design, a forerunner to the Art Institute of Chicago.
Art Institute of ChicagoCC BY 4.0
Details
- Accession number
- 1938.1280
What it shows
In the catalog
Sources
- Art Institute of Chicago
- Image: Art Institute of Chicago — CC0
![Polling [recto], Walter Shirlaw, late 19th century](https://api.nga.gov/iiif/5cacd098-9af5-4b9f-a309-593dac994fea/full/!2400,2400/0/default.jpg)
![Study of an Interior [verso], Walter Shirlaw, late 19th century](https://api.nga.gov/iiif/56770f22-6f9b-4b34-b3bb-609d6c544706/full/!2400,2400/0/default.jpg)
