The Paintings of James McNeill Whistler

Date

Design for an album for 'Nocturnes, Marines and Chevalet Pieces' was drawn in a letter from Whistler to David Croal Thomson (1855-1930), stamped on receipt, 'Successors to Boussod Valadon, 13 May 1893'.

Design for an album for 'Nocturnes, Marines and Chevalet Pieces', Library of Congress

The relevant part of the letter reads:

'Then about the portfolio ... I am afraid I am rather disappointed. ...

As to the cover - I think it a little flimsy - in any case I would have a yellow ribbon on the two end flaps so that they at least may tie together. [sketch of Album] That may do something towards strengthening the whole -

Then the title and contents ought not to be on one folded sheet - Each should be separate - I would cut the present sheet in two.' [sketch of two separate pages] ¹

It is catalogued in MacDonald 1995 (cat. rais.) [more] (cat. no. 1361).

Images

Subject

Description

Design for an album for 'Nocturnes, Marines and Chevalet Pieces', Library of Congress

Designs for the cover and title and contents pages of an album.

Technique

Composition

Design for an album for 'Nocturnes, Marines and Chevalet Pieces', Library of Congress

Designs for the album of photographs of Whistler's paintings selected from the exhibition Nocturnes, Marines & Chevalet Pieces, Goupil Gallery, London, 1892.

Conservation History

The letter is written on sides 1, 2 and 4, the drawings being on the third side, drawn in thin ink with a square-nibbed pen. The letter was folded once more to fit the envelope.

History

Provenance

• 1893: sent to David Croal Thomson (1855-1930), of Goupil's, London art dealer;
• Date unknown: probably sold to Elizabeth Robins Pennell (1855-1936) and Joseph Pennell (1860-1926);
• 1927/1936: given to the Library of Congress.

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. 1361) as "Design for an album for 'Nocturnes, Marines and Chevalet Pieces' ".

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 GUW #08233.