The Paintings of James McNeill Whistler

Date

Fireplace and flowers, pattern and paintings was drawn on the verso of a letter from Robert Koehler (1850-1917), dated 3 April 1888, in which he wrote that he was sorry to hear that Whistler intended to exhibit in the English section of the IIIrd Internationale Kunst-Austellung in Munich in 1888. ¹

Fireplace and flowers, pattern and paintings, Glasgow University Library

It is catalogued in MacDonald 1995 (cat. rais.) [more] (cat. no. 1168).

Images

Subject

Description

Whistler sent a large group of works – thirteen oils, twenty watercolours, seven pastels and thirty etchings – to the III. Internationale Kunst-Ausstellung, Königlicher Glaspalast, Munich, 1888. Arrangement in Grey and Black: Portrait of the Painter's Mother y101 was awarded a second-class gold medal.

Fireplace and flowers, pattern and paintings, Glasgow University Library

Whistler's sketch shows Harmony in Grey and Green: Miss Cicely Alexander y129, Nocturne: Cremorne Gardens, No. 3 y165 and Note in Red: The Siesta y254 all of which were exhibited in Munich (cat. nos. 2454, 56, 58). The titles of the pictures, in German, were noted, presumably for inclusion in the catalogue.

There are also unrelated studies of a figure, flowers, and diaper-patterned drapery hung over a fireplace

Technique

Conservation History

The letter is on the first three sides, with the drawings on the fourth. It was folded twice more vertically and once across, and there are small tears and holes along the folds. The paper is badly discoloured.

History

Provenance

• 1903: in Whistler's studio at his death in 1903 and bequeathed to his sister-in-law, Rosalind Birnie Philip (1873-1958);
• 1955: given by Miss Birnie Philip to the University of Glasgow.

Exhibitions

The letter was never exhibited, although it relates to an exhibition.

Bibliography

Catalogues Raisonnés

• MacDonald, Margaret F., James McNeill Whistler. Drawings, Pastels and Watercolours. A Catalogue Raisonné, New Haven and London, 1995 (cat. no. 1168) as 'Fireplace and flowers, pattern and paintings'.

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, 2003-2004, GUW #04200.