The Paintings of James McNeill Whistler

Date

Draped model was drawn between 1866 and 1869 and signed between 1869 and 1874.

Draped model, Art Institute Of Chicago

It is fully catalogued in MacDonald 1995 (cat. rais.) [more] (cat. no. 332).

Images

Subject

Description

Draped model, Art Institute Of Chicago

A study of a young woman facing left, standing with legs slightly bent as she leans forward on a table to her left. Her hair is drawn up into a bun, and she wears white draperies. There is a small pot on the table.

Sitter

Draped model, Art Institute Of Chicago

Not identified. A figure with a similar hairstyle is seen in other drawings including Two figures seated and one standing m0331 and r.: Model Resting; v.: A woman's leg m0335.

Technique

Composition

Draped model, Art Institute Of Chicago

r.: Model Resting, Private Collection

This may have been one of several studies (with, for instance, r.: Model Resting; v.: A woman's leg m0335) for an unrealised figure composition.

Stephanie L. Strother compares it to studies by Albert Joseph Moore (1841-1893) such as the Study for "A Garden" of ca 1869 (Art Institute of Chicago, 2003.251). ¹

Technique

Draped model, Art Institute Of Chicago

It was drawn lightly in black chalk with highlights and colouring in white chalk. There are pentimenti and the pose is not entirely resolved. Strother comments 'His short, wavering lines are hesitant, and though white chalk highlights add luminosity to the fabric, both it and the woman appear volumeless and insubstantial.' ²

The paper has a rough texture, and is spotted with flecks of fibre and stains. There are very faint suggestions of lines, possibly another figure, at right. The paper has been unevenly cut, and there are numerous pinholes at the centre top and bottom, and the corners, suggesting it was pinned up for reworking, copying or consultation. The butterfly was a later addition, dating from ca 1872. ³

History

Provenance

• 1927: bequeathed by Charles Deering (1852-1927) to the Art Institute of Chicago.

The earlier provenance is unknown.

Exhibitions

There is no record of an exhibition 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. 332) as 'Draped model'.

Websites

• Art Institute of Chicago website at https://www.artic.edu as 'Draped Model with a Small Table'.
• Clarke, Jay A., and Sarah Kelly Oehler, eds., Whistler Paintings and Drawings at the Art Institute of Chicago, The Art Institute of Chicago, 2020, website (cat. no. 10) as 'Draped Model'.