The Paintings of James McNeill Whistler

Date

Design for the cover of 'Whistler v. Ruskin: Art and Art Critics' dates from December 1878. ¹

It is catalogued in MacDonald 1995 (cat. rais.) [more] (cat. no. 707).

Images

Subject

Description

According to Christie's (14 November 1966 (lot 100), they had four drawings for the cover of Art and Art Critics in pen, ink and wash on white paper (7 1/1 x 5 ½") and one on brown paper (7 x 5"), but it is possible some of these were proofs of the original rather than drawings.

Technique

Composition

Whistler made several designs for the cover of Whistler v. Ruskin: Art and Art Critics but in the end only a simple design of text and the butterfly signature was printed, on brown paper. ²

Technique

Unknown.

History

Provenance

• 1878: probably acquired from the artist by Thomas Way (1837-1915), who printed Whistler v. Ruskin: Art and Art Critics;
• ca 1913: acquired from his son, Thomas Robert Way (1861-1913) or from Mrs Way by Pickford Robert Waller (1849-1930), London;
• 1930: bequeathed to his daughter, Sybil Christina Waller (1882-1973);
• 1965: sold at auction, Christie's, London, 14 November 1966 (lot 100).

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. 707) as 'Design for the cover of 'Whistler v. Ruskin: Art and Art Critics'.

Books on Whistler

• Way, Thomas Robert, Memories of James McNeill Whistler, the Artist, London and New York, 1912, p. 33.

Catalogues 1906-Present

• Christie's, London, 14 November 1966 (lot 100).