Titles

Only one title has been suggested:

• 'Portrait of Miss Philip in Black' (1980, YMSM). 1

Description

It was described by W. G. Robertson as 'a girl in black, painted I think from his sister-in-law, Miss Philip, standing by a table covered with a white cloth on which were silver tea or breakfast things.' 2

Sitter

W. & D. Downey, Mrs John Birnie Philip and family, 1895/1909, platinum print, GUL Whistler PH1/165

The sitter was described as Whistler's 'sister-in-law, Miss Philip'. This probably meant Rosalind Birnie Philip (1873-1958) rather than Ethel Whibley (1861-1920). Both of them were posing for Whistler but Ethel, formerly Ethel Philip, was by this time Mrs Charles Whibley.