The Paintings of James McNeill Whistler

Date

C. A. Howell as 'Ye Owl' dates from 1878/1879.

C. A. Howell as 'Ye Owl', Ashmolean Museum

The drawing was catalogued in MacDonald 1995 (cat. rais.) [more] (cat. no. 675). An image has now been added and the entry has been corrected.

Images

Subject

Sitter

C. A. Howell as 'Ye Owl', Ashmolean Museum

Charles Augustus Howell (1840?-1890), whose nickname was 'Owl'. He is wearing the red ribbon of the Portuguese Order of Christ, which he claimed to have inherited.

Technique

Technique

C. A. Howell as 'Ye Owl', Ashmolean Museum

A tiny drawing of a dissipated owl, done with a fine pen nib, with the dark areas of hat and coat brushed in boldly. A touch of red illuminates the decorations on Howell's lapel.

Conservation History

This has been cut from a letter.

History

Provenance

• 1903: in Whistler's studio at his death and bequeathed to Rosalind Birnie Philip (1873-1958);
• 1957: sold by her to Conaghi's, London art dealers, 27 April 1957;
• 1957: given by Colnaghi's to the Ashmolean Museum.

It does not appear in the Ashmolean online catalogue (2021).

Exhibitions

It has not been exhibited.

Bibliography

Catalogues Raisonnés

• MacDonald, Margaret F., James McNeill Whistler. Drawings, Pastels and Watercolours. A Catalogue Raisonné, New Haven and London, 1995 (cat. no. 675) as "C. A. Howell as 'Ye Owl' ".