The Paintings of James McNeill Whistler

Date

Butterflies dates from 1888/1892.

Butterflies, Glasgow University Library

The drawings are catalogued in MacDonald 1995 (cat. rais.) [more] (cat. no. 1189). The entry has been revised.

Images

Subject

Description

Butterflies, Glasgow University Library

Fragment (cover and first three sheets) of Martin Chuzzlewit by Charles Dickens (1812-1870) (London 1867).

Inside cover, v.: two butterflies with long tails, pencil on brown paper laid down onto white, r.: inscribed by John Birnie Philip (1824-1875), 'J B. Phillip/ 1867'.

p. 1: butterfly, pencil on buff wove paper with printed heading 'THE / Charles Dickens/ EDITION', 179 x 122mm (7 1/16 x 4 13/16").

p. 4: printed illustration, 'Meekness of Mr. Pecksniff and his charming daughters.'

f. 5, title page with printed heading 'THE LIFE AND ADVENTURES OF MARTIN CHUZZLEWIT / BY CHARLES DICKENS ... Chapman & Hall 1867'.

p. 6: circle, ellipse, butterfly with long tail, pencil on cream wove paper with printed text 'LONDON: PRINTED BY VIRTUE AND Co., CITY ROAD.' The butterfly was drawn upside down on the sheet. The paper has darkened.

Technique

Technique

These drawings could be by Beatrice Philip (Mrs E. W. Godwin, Mrs J. McN. Whistler) (1857-1896), possibly designs for jewellery, of which there are examples in the Hunterian, but they could equally be by Whistler, as variations on his signature.

Conservation History

This is the fragment of a book and is in poor condition.

History

Provenance

• 1867: John Birnie Philip (1824-1875);
• 1875: passed by family descent to his daughter, Beatrice Philip (Mrs E. W. Godwin, Mrs J. McN. Whistler) (1857-1896);
• 1896: passed either to J. McN. Whistler or to Rosalind Birnie Philip (1873-1958);
• 1955: given by Miss Birnie Philip to the University of Glasgow.

The book belonged to the sculptor J. B. Philip, best known for his work on the Albert Memorial. Beatrice Philip probably worked in his studio before studying with, and later marrying, Edward William Godwin (1833-1886), and, on his death, Whistler.

Exhibitions

It has never been exhibited.

Bibliography

Catalogues Raisonnés

• MacDonald, Margaret F., James McNeill Whistler. Drawings, Pastels and Watercolours. A Catalogue Raisonné, New Haven and London, 1995 (cat. no. 1189).