The Paintings of James McNeill Whistler

Date

'Mr B. Christ bids good morning to a lady...' dates from shortly after 6 November 1854, the date printed on the circular that inspired Whistler's drawing.

'Mr B. Christ bids good morning to a lady...', Metropolitan Museum of Art

'Mr B. Christ bids good morning to a lady...', Metropolitan Museum of Art

For more information on this work, see MacDonald 1995 (cat. rais.) [more] (cat. no. 184).

Images

Subject

Sitter

'Mr B. Christ bids good morning to a lady...', Metropolitan Museum of Art

The figure of 'Mr B. Christ' is obviously drawn from imagination.

Technique

Conservation History

'Mr B. Christ bids good morning to a lady...' and B. Christ's circular, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Metropolitan Museum of Art

The printed circular of 'B. Christ, Late of TIFFANY, YOUNG & ELLIS' was stuck into the Winans' album, with Whistler's drawing stuck at the bottom, under the text. The circular advertises an 'extensive and beautiful assortment of Jewelry, Precious Stones, and Watches' for sale at 69 Broadway, New York.

History

Provenance

• 1853/1854: given to Thomas de Kay Winans (1820-1878) and family;
• 1878-1970: passed by family descent to his daughter Celeste Marguerite Winans (Mrs G. M. Hutton) (1855-1925), her daughter Lucette Marguerite Hutton, Mrs H. A. Prichard (1885-1957), and grand-daughters, Margaret Celeste Prichard, Mrs T. A. Buell (1908-1970), Helen Lucette Prichard, Mrs J. M. King (1913-2005), and Sybil Agnes Prichard, Mrs E. G. Walk (1915-2009);
• 1970: given by Margaret C. Buell, Helen L. King, and Sybil A. Walk to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Exhibitions

Not, as far as is known, exhibited in Whistler's lifetime.

Bibliography

Catalogues Raisonnés

• MacDonald, Margaret F., James McNeill Whistler. Drawings, Pastels and Watercolours. A Catalogue Raisonné, New Haven and London, 1995 (cat. no. 184) as 'Mr B. Christ bids good morning to a lady...'.

Journals 1906-Present

• Pressly, Nancy D., 'Whistler in America: An Album of Early Drawings', Metropolitan Museum Journal, New York, vol. 5, 1972, pp. 125-54.

Websites

• Metropolitan Museum of Art website as 'Printed Announcement from B. Christ to which is Glued Drawing with Inscription "W. B. Christ bids good morning . . . " (from Sketchbook)'.