John Whetten Ehninger

John Whetten Ehninger was an artist whose documented professional activity spans the brief period between 1857 and 1859. His known output focuses specifically on literary illustration, with works centered on William Cowper’s popular narrative poem, "The Diverting History of John Gilpin."

The artist is represented in major American museum collections, affirming his historical significance. Documentation includes one drawing held in these institutions, reflecting multiple vignettes from the Gilpin saga. These illustrations depict sequential moments in the poem, such as John Gilpin Is Delayed Going to Church by Three Customers Entering His Linendraper's Shop, John Gilpin Sends His Wife and Family before Him to the Church to Renew Their Wedding Vows, and John Gilpin on His Horse Stampeding Back to London.

These specialized narrative works are preserved in the collections of both the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the National Gallery of Art. The verifiable existence of these institutional holdings ensures that images by the artist, including historical John Whetten Ehninger prints, are maintained for scholarly access. Due to the era of his documented activity, much of this material is frequently considered public domain today.