The Paintings of James McNeill Whistler

Date

Silver cup was drawn on the envelope containing an unrelated letter, from George Frederick Watts (1817-1904) to Whistler, dated 14 July 1891. ¹

Silver cup, Glasgow University Library

The tiny drawing is catalogued in MacDonald 1995 (cat. rais.) [more] (cat. no. 1318). The entry has beenbrevised.

Images

Subject

Description

This is a tiny (14 mm high) drawing of a cup. It is possible that it related to the silver tableware that was being collected by Whistler and his wife Beatrice Philip (Mrs E. W. Godwin, Mrs J. McN. Whistler) (1857-1896). It is also possible that the sketch was by Beatrice Whistler who was making an illustrated list of their collection (her small ledger is now in the Whistler collection in Glasgow University Library).

Technique

Technique

A very minimalist sketch, which could be by Whistler or Beatrice Philip (Mrs E. W. Godwin, Mrs J. McN. Whistler) (1857-1896).

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

It was not exhibited in Whistler's lifetime, or indeed at any time.

Bibliography

Catalogues Raisonnés

• MacDonald, Margaret F., James McNeill Whistler. Drawings, Pastels and Watercolours. A Catalogue Raisonné, New Haven and London, 1995 (cat. no. 1318) as 'Silver cup'.

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 #06070.