The Paintings of James McNeill Whistler

Date

A Bat dates from 1892/1893.

A Bat, Bibliothèque du Musée D'Orsay, Paris

It was catalogued in MacDonald 1995 (cat. rais.) [more] (cat. no. 1355b).

Images

Subject

Description

A Bat, Bibliothèque du Musée D'Orsay, Paris

A bat with outspread wings flying to left, with clouds and a full moon behind it, to left.

Technique

Composition

A Bat, Bibliothèque du Musée D'Orsay, Paris

A Bat, proof of lithograph, Bibliothèque du Musée D'Orsay, Paris

This is one of two preliminary designs for a frontispiece for the second edition of a book: Montesquiou 1893 A [more]; it was placed in a deluxe copy of the 1893 edition.

History

Provenance

• 1892: drawn for Robert de Montesquiou-Fezensac (1855-1921) and possibly given to Antonio de la Gandara (1862-1917).
• Date unknown: acquired by the Bibliothèque du Musée D'Orsay, Paris.

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. 1355b) as 'A Bat.

Books, General

• Montesquiou, Robert de, Les Chauves Souris. Clairs Obscurs, Paris, 1893.