The Paintings of James McNeill Whistler

Date

Three butterflies were drawn for publication in Whistler 1890 [more].

Three butterflies, Private Collection

It is catalogued in MacDonald 1995 (cat. rais.) [more] (cat. no. 1239).

Images

Subject

Description

Three butterflies, Private Collection

Three designs for butterflies (all with long wriggly barbed tails) in Whistler 1890 [more].

Technique

Composition

Three butterflies, Private Collection

These are designs for Whistler 1890 [more].

The butterfly at upper right is similar to that used for the 'Dedication', although the curved tail appears slightly less sinuous, and Whistler may have redrawn it. The one at upper left appeared at the end of 'Propositions - No. 2'. The one at lower left was printed with its tail pointed up even more, on p.123, at the end of 'A Document', a letter to 'Atlas' that had appeared in The World on 24 March 1880.

History

Provenance

• 1890: probably sent by Whistler to William Heinemann (1863-1920), London publisher.
• Date unknown: private collection;
• 1981: sold at auction, Christie's, London, 13 March 1981 (lot 1) as 'Three Butterflies', and bought by a pivate collector.

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. 1239) as 'Three butterflies'.

Authored by Whistler

• Whistler, James McNeill, The Gentle Art of Making Enemies, London, 1890, repr., pp. v, 116, 123.

Catalogues 1906-Present

SALE:

• Christie's, London, 13 March 1981 (lot 1) as 'Three Butterflies'.