The Paintings of James McNeill Whistler
M.0203a
A Man Seated at a Desk
Date
A Man Seated at a Desk probably dates from between 1854 and 1856.
A Man Seated at a Desk, Colby College Museum of Art
A Man in a hat, Library of Congress
The technique is similar to that seen in a few early drawings, such as A Man in a hat m0178, which is dated 1854.
However, it is hard to date from technique alone, and it could date from later. A label on the verso suggests a date of about 1860.
Images
A Man Seated at a Desk, Colby College Museum of Art
A Man in a hat, Library of Congress
Subject
Titles
The title was suggested by Christie's:
- 'A Man Seated at a Desk' (Christie's, London, 22 June 1962 (lot 10).
Sitter
Unknown.
Technique
Technique
A Man Seated At a Desk, Colby College Museum of Art
The intricately cross-hatched shadows and delicate lines are recurring elements in Whistler's drawings at different periods.
History
Provenance
- Before 1929: Walter Dowdeswell (1858-1929).
- 1962: sold at auction, Christie's, London, 22 June 1962 (lot 10) as 'A Man Seated at a Desk'.
- 1960s/1970s: Bernard Black Gallery, New York.
- 2003: with Bonhams & Butterfields, Los Angeles, CA 90046.
- 2010: bought by Paula Crane Lunder (b. 1935) and Peter H. Lunder (b. 1933);
- 2010: given to Colby College Museum of Art, The Lunder Collection.
There are several gaps in the provenance.
Exhibitions
No exhibition has been identified.
Bibliography
Catalogues Raisonnés
- None.
Catalogues 1906-Present
SALE:
- Christie's, London, 22 June 1962 (lot 10) as 'A Man Seated at a Desk'.
Websites
- Colby College Museum of Art website.