The Paintings of James McNeill Whistler

Date

'The Owl' very ill in bed was dated 22 October 1878 by Charles Augustus Howell (1840?-1890) the recipient of Whistler's letter. ¹

'The Owl' very ill in bed, Glasgow University Library

It is catalogued in MacDonald 1995 (cat. rais.) [more] (cat. no. 704).

Images

Subject

Sitter

'The Owl' very ill in bed, Glasgow University Library

Charles Augustus Howell (1840?-1890), nicknamed the 'Owl', is the subject, though not exactly the sitter! Howell wrote in his letter-book, underneath this note: 'Myself- "The Owl"- Very ill in bed, with swollen face. C A.H.'

Technique

Technique

'The Owl' very ill in bed, Glasgow University Library

The drawing is part of the letter, drawn with the same pen and ink as the letter.

History

Provenance

• 1878: sent on 22 October to Charles Augustus Howell (1840?-1890), who put it in an album;
• After 1884: the album was acquired by Cornelius Cox (1835-1889) and returned to Whistler;
• 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 Philip to the University of Glasgow.

Cornelius Cox was the father of Amy Ellen Cox, Mrs T. R. Way (1865-1949), wife of Thomas Robert Way (1861-1913). Way's father, Thomas Way (1837-1915), instructed Whistler in the art of lithography in the late 1870s and printed his lithographs.It was on the Ways' advice that the album was shown to Whistler.

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. 704) as " 'The Owl' very ill in bed".

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, 2003-2005. GUW #02800.