The Paintings of James McNeill Whistler

M.0879
Butterfly for the private view of Venice Etchings

Artist: James McNeill Whistler
Date: 1883
Collection: New York Public Library
Accession Number: n/a
Medium: pen and black ink
Support: white laid paper, watermark of crown over hunting horn, and 'CHARTA ASPERA / L & S'
Size: 8 11/16 x 6 3/4" (223 x 173 mm)
Signature: butterfly signature on letter
Inscription: letter including text, 'I really had some 80 or 100 little butterflies made of white and yellow satin - most exquisite - wonderful little bodies of plush - with the crisp silk wings and the silver barbed sting!'

Date

Butterfly for the private view of Venice Etchings dates from February 1883, and illustrates a letter from Whistler to William McNeill Whistler (1836-1900) regarding the success of his exhibition, Etchings & Drypoints - Venice. Second Series, Fine Art Society, London, 1883. ¹

Butterfly for the private view of Venice Etchings, New York Public Library

Fully catalogued in MacDonald 1995 (cat. rais.) [more] (cat. no. 879).

Images

Butterfly for the private view of Venice Etchings, New York Public Library

Subject

Description

Butterfly for the private view of Venice Etchings, New York Public Library

A butterfly with open wings and long antennae.

Technique

Technique

Butterfly for the private view of Venice Etchings, New York Public Library

See MacDonald 1995 (cat. rais.) [more] (cat. no. 879).

History

Provenance

1883: sent to the artist's brother William McNeill Whistler (1836-1900).
Date unknown: acquired by New York Public Library.

Exhibitions

Butterfly for the private view of Venice Etchings, New York Public Library

This relates to designs for the Private View of Etchings & Drypoints - Venice. Second Series, Fine Art Society, London, 1883, but was not itself exhibited.

Bibliography

Catalogues Raisonnés

MacDonald, Margaret F., James McNeill Whistler. Drawings, Pastels and Watercolours. A Catalogue Raisonné, New Haven and London, 1995 (cat. no. 879) as 'Butterfly for the private view of Venice Etchings'.

Websites

The Correspondence of James McNeill Whistler, 1855-1903, edited by Margaret F. MacDonald, Patricia de Montfort and Nigel Thorp, 2003-2004, University of Glasgow, website, GUW #11026.

Notes:

1: [18/25 February 1883], GUW #11026.