The Paintings of James McNeill Whistler

Date

Six girls by the sea may relate to such drawings as Sea Beach and Figures m0384, and has been dated accordingly, although it was not recorded until 1891, and no image exists. ¹

Six girls by the sea is fully catalogued in MacDonald 1995 (cat. rais.) [more] (cat. no. 391).

Images

Subject

Description

It was described as 'A composition of six girls in classical costume posing by a blue sea.' ²

Technique

Composition

Sea Beach and Figures, Fitzwilliam Museum

This may have been a study for Sea Beach and Figures m0384, which is reproduced above.

It could have been a study related to the so-called 'Six Projects' although none have as many as six figures.

History

Provenance

• 1891: with Henry Graves (1806-1892) and Algernon Graves (1845-1922), London art dealers and publishers.

At this time Messrs Graves were concerned with the repayment of loans to the artist, on the security of his paintings.

Exhibitions

It was on show at Messrs Graves, London, in April 1891. ³

Bibliography

Catalogues Raisonnés

• MacDonald, Margaret F., James McNeill Whistler. Drawings, Pastels and Watercolours. A Catalogue Raisonné, New Haven and London, 1995 (cat. no. 391) as 'Six girls by the sea'.

Newspapers 1855-1905

• Anon., 'Art Notes', Pall Mall Gazette, London, 22 April 1891, p. 1.