The Paintings of James McNeill Whistler

Date

Horsewhip was drawn on draft of a letter, which probably dates from 4 January 1878, from Whistler to B. Verity & Sons regarding Harmony in Blue and Gold: The Peacock Room y178. ¹ It refers to the threat by Frederick Richards Leyland (1832-1892) to horse-whip Whistler if he came to Leyland's house again, and the inscription refers to Leyland's liking for frilled shirts.

Horsewhip, Glasgow University Library

'F. R. L. . . . frill!', Ashmolean Museum

However, it is possible, that both this and a related drawing, 'F. R. L. . . . frill!' m0719, date from after May 1879, when Whistler was declared bankrupt.

It is fully catalogued in MacDonald 1995 (cat. rais.) [more] (cat. no. 661).

Images

Subject

Description

Horsewhip, Glasgow University Library

As the title indicates, this shows a horse whip.

Technique

Technique

Horsewhip, Glasgow University Library

See MacDonald 1995 (cat. rais.) [more] (cat. no. 661).

History

Provenance

• 1903: in Whistler's studio at his death and bequeathed to his sister-in-law and executrix, Rosalind Birnie Philip (1873-1958);
• 1955: given by Miss Birnie Philip to the University of Glasgow.

Exhibitions

It was not 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. 661) as 'Horsewhip'.

Websites

• The Correspondence of James McNeill Whistler, 1855-1903, edited by Margaret F. MacDonald, Patricia de Montfort and Nigel Thorp; including The Correspondence of Anna McNeill Whistler, 1855-1880, edited by Georgia Toutziari. Online edition, University of Glasgow. GUW #05964