The Paintings of James McNeill Whistler

M.0694
Study: Seated Figure

Study: Seated Figure

Artist: James McNeill Whistler
Date: 1878
Collection: Freer Gallery of Art, Washington, DC
Accession Number: F1905.145a-b
Medium: chalk
Support: brown wove paper
Size: 12 1/4 x 7 9/16-7 5/8' (312 x 192-194 mm)
Signature: butterfly
Inscription: 'Whistler - Lindsey Houses - Chelsea - London', signed with butterfly, on wood backing

Date

Study: Seated Figure dates from 1878

Study: Seated Figure, Freer Gallery of Art
Study: Seated Figure, Freer Gallery of Art

The drawing is fully catalogued in MacDonald 1995 (cat. rais.) [more] (cat. no. 694).

Images

Study: Seated Figure, Freer Gallery of Art
Study: Seated Figure, Freer Gallery of Art

Subject

Sitter

Study: Seated Figure, Freer Gallery of Art
Study: Seated Figure, Freer Gallery of Art

Maud Franklin (1857-1939).

Technique

Composition

Study: Seated Figure, Freer Gallery of Art
Study: Seated Figure, Freer Gallery of Art

This is closely related to the composition of Whistler's second lithotint Study c006, and may have been a preparatory drawing for it.

Frame

It was framed by Foord & Dickinson, carvers and gilders of 90 Wardour Street, London, according to a label.

History

Provenance

On 12 February 1880 Thomas Way wrote to tell Whistler he had bought one of 'The two framed studies of Miss F. in the Old Chair ... … So that you see no harm has been done you.' 1

Further details are given in MacDonald 1995 (cat. rais.) [more] (cat. no. 694).

Exhibitions

By the terms of Freer's will the drawing can not be lent to other venues.

Bibliography

Catalogues Raisonnés

Catalogues 1855-1905

Journals 1855-1905

Catalogues 1906-Present

Websites


Notes:

1: GUW #06080.