The Paintings of James McNeill Whistler

Date

r.: A nude girl wearing a purple cap; v.: A seated girl in a pinafore date from 1893/1895.

r.: A nude girl wearing a purple cap, the Hunterian

The drawing is fully catalogued in MacDonald 1995 (cat. rais.) [more] (cat. no. 1386).

Images

Subject

Sitter

r.: A nude girl wearing a purple cap, the Hunterian

v.: A seated girl in a pinafore, the Hunterian

It was suggested by Miss Birnie Philip that the model was 'Eva' but she does not look like Eva Victoria Carrington (1887-1979). The figure on the verso may be Lilian ('Lily') Pamington (b. 1887/1888).

Technique

Technique

r.: A nude girl wearing a purple cap, the Hunterian

The skin was modelled in four different shades. A green curtain and orangey brown pastel were scumbled across the background.

v.: A seated girl in a pinafore, the Hunterian

See further details in MacDonald 1995 (cat. rais.) [more] (cat. no. 1386).

Conservation History

The board was commercially prepared. On the recto, the paper has a slight sheen and faint vertical grain. The verso has slightly bevelled edges, which is unusual, and a stronger vertical grain, but is similarly fibrous, with wood-stalk fragments. There is a small hole in the paper, just below the sofa.

History

Provenance

• 1903: in Whistler's studio at his death and bequeathed to his sister-in-law and executrix, Rosalind Birnie Philip (1873-1958);
• 1935: given by Miss Birnie Philip to the University of Glasgow.

Exhibitions

By the terms of Miss Birnie Philip's gift, the painting cannot be lent to another venue.

Bibliography

Catalogues Raisonnés

• MacDonald, Margaret F., James McNeill Whistler. Drawings, Pastels and Watercolours. A Catalogue Raisonné, New Haven and London, 1995 (cat. no. 1386) as 'r.: A nude girl wearing a purple cap; v.: A seated girl in a pinafore'.

Websites

• The Hunterian website at http://collections.gla.ac.uk.