Detail from The Canal, Amsterdam, 1889, James McNeill Whistler, The Hunterian, University of Glasgow

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Monk reading

Composition

J. Whistler, Monk reading, St Louis Art Museum
J. Whistler, Monk reading, St Louis Art Museum

According to Larned, this was copied from a print frequently used by Robert Walter Weir (1803-1889) for the instruction of Cadets. 1

J. C. Duane,  Monk reading, USMA, West Point
J. C. Duane, Monk reading, USMA, West Point

The print copied by Whistler was the source for another painting now at West Point, by James Chatham Duane (1824-1897) of the class of 1848, who was an Instructor at West Point during Whistler's time there. Duane's drawing is slightly larger than Whistler's (338 x 442 mm) and, although browned and cracked, but with a range of colours similar to that seen in Whistler's picture.

A series of prints of monastic subjects were used as models for Weir's classes. Copies of these done in 1845 by Delos B. Sacket (1822-1865) of the class of '45, and in 1847 by Walter H. Stevens (1827-1867), class of '48, are in the collection at West Point.

Conservation History

The paper is now badly browned, cracked and torn, with some paper loss at the upper right corner.

Notes:

1: Charles Troubridge Larned (d. 1882) quoted in Pennell 1908 [more] , I, p. 32.

Last updated: 3rd January 2019 by Margaret