The Paintings of James McNeill Whistler
M.1345
r.: Figures, glasses and pottery; v.: Head, coffee-pots and glassware
Date
r.: Figures, glasses and pottery; v.: Head, coffee-pots and glassware date from about 1892.
r.: B. and J. McN. Whistler, Figures, glasses and pottery, The Hunterian
v.: B. Whistler, Head, coffee-pots and glassware, The Hunterian
It was catalogued in MacDonald 1995 (cat. rais.) [more] (cat. no. 1345). The entry has been amended.
Images
r.: B. and J. McN. Whistler, Figures, glasses and pottery, The Hunterian
v.: B. Whistler, Head, coffee-pots and glassware, The Hunterian
This was catalogued in MacDonald 1995 (cat. rais.) [more] (cat. no. 1345).
Subject
Description
r.: B. and J. McN. Whistler, Figures, glasses and pottery, The Hunterian
The porcelain and glassware were drawn in opposite directions on the two halves of the paper. At lower left, as reproduced above, is a glass with a butterfly winding around the stem. On the right half, as reproduced, there are figures in pencil as well as glasses in pen and ink, one with a butterfly on the stem.
v.: B. Whistler, Head, coffee-pots and glassware, The Hunterian
A head in profile, silverware including a coffee pot, pottery and glasses.
Technique
Technique
r.: B. and J. McN. Whistler, Figures, glasses and pottery, The Hunterian
The two pencil figures, apparently sketched from life, are much like J. McN. Whistler's work. They may relate to theatrical performances such as Lady Archibald Campbell's productions of plays at Coombe, in which both the Godwins and Whistler were involved.
v.: B. Whistler, Head, coffee-pots and glassware, The Hunterian
The Whistlers collected oriental porcelain and georgian silver. The silver was engraved with J. McN. Whistler's butterfly. Beatrice Philip (Mrs E. W. Godwin, Mrs J. McN. Whistler) (1857-1896) envisaged glassware incorporating the butterfly, with the tail twining round the stem. This is one of several such designs now in Glasgow; Rosalind Birnie Philip (1873-1958) told Harold Wright (1885-1961) that one was by her sister, Beatrice.
v.: Beatrice Whistler, Head, coffee-pots and glassware, The Hunterian
It is possible that the head and the designs for pottery and glass (including the butterflies!) are by Beatrice Philip (Mrs E. W. Godwin, Mrs J. McN. Whistler) (1857-1896). The shading is more regular than J. McN. Whistler's, and the outlines less wiry and flowing.
History
Provenance
- 1903: in Whistler's studio at his death in 1903 and bequeathed to his sister-in-law, Rosalind Birnie Philip (1873-1958);
- 1958: bequeathed by Miss Birnie Philip to the University of Glasgow.
Bibliography
Catalogues Raisonnés
- MacDonald, Margaret F., James McNeill Whistler. Drawings, Pastels and Watercolours. A Catalogue Raisonné, New Haven and London, 1995 (cat. no. 1345) as 'r.: Figures, glasses and pottery; v.: Head, coffee-pots and glassware'.
Websites
- The Hunterian website at http://collections.gla.ac.uk