Provenance

• 1903: in Whistler's studio at his death and bequeathed to Rosalind Birnie Philip (1873-1958);
• 1935: given by Miss Philip to the University of Glasgow.

Exhibitions

• 1886: 'Notes' - 'Harmonies' - 'Nocturnes', Second Series, Messrs Dowdeswell, London, 1886 (cat. no. 41) as 'Note in flesh-colour gold – The Golden Blossom'.
• 1889: “Notes” – “Harmonies” – “Nocturnes”, H. Wunderlich & Co., New York, 1889 (cat. no. 45) as 'Gold and Pink'.

The New York Times did not described this pastel specifically, but commented on 3 March 1889 that 'the Wunderlich exhibition included 'pastels of nude young ladies who rely a good deal on the color of the paper on which they live for their existence.' 1

Whistler asked the high price of 80 guineas in 1889, but it remained unsold, and was returned after the exhibition by Wunderlich's on the SS Servia. 2

By the terms of Miss Birnie Philip's gift, this drawing can not be lent to other venues.