The Paintings of James McNeill Whistler

Date

Design for a monogram for William Heinemann probably dates from 1896, and Design for a monogram for Magda Heinemann from 1899/1900. That for William Heinemann was in use by 1897 - for instance in a letter from Whistler to R. Birnie Philip on 14 January 1897. ¹

Monogram for William Heinemann, Glasgow University Library

Monogram for Magda Heinemann, Glasgow University Library

They are catalogued in MacDonald 1995 (cat. rais.) [more] (cat. no. 1534).

Images

Subject

Description

Monogram for William Heinemann, Glasgow University Library

This is the monogram 'WM' for William Heinemann (1863-1920) as embossed on his letters from 4 Whitehall Court, S.W., for instance in a letter from Whistler to R. Birnie Philip on 14 January 1897, and from Heinemann to Whistler on 29 June 1898. ²

Monogram for Magda Heinemann, Glasgow University Library

The monogram for Magda Heinemann consisted of 'MH' in an oval.

Technique

Composition

Monogram for William Heinemann, Glasgow University Library

Monogram for Magda Heinemann, Glasgow University Library

Whistler designed monograms for William Heinemann (1863-1920) and Magda Stuart Sindici (Mrs W. Heinemann) (b. 1878, m. 1899). ³

The drawings for these monograms have not been located.

History

Provenance

• 1896-1899: one design was probably commissioned by and sent to William Heinemann (1863-1920) in 1896, and the other on his marriage in 1899 to Magda Stuart Sindici (Mrs W. Heinemann) (b. 1878, m. 1899).

Present whereabouts unknown.

Exhibitions

The designs were not, as far as is known, ever exhibited.

Bibliography

Catalogues Raisonnés

• MacDonald, Margaret F., James McNeill Whistler. Drawings, Pastels and Watercolours. A Catalogue Raisonné, New Haven and London, 1995 (cat. no. 1534) as 'Designs for monograms for William and Magda Heinemann'.

Journals 1906-Present

• Pennell, E. R. and J. Pennell, 'Whistler as Decorator', Century Magazine, vol. 83, February 1912, pp. 500-13, at p. 513.