The Paintings of James McNeill Whistler

Date

r.: Butterfly; v.: Chequered butterfly were drawn in 1899 as illustrations for Whistler 1899 (F)[more].

r.: Butterfly; v.: Chequered butterfly, Library of Congress

v.: Chequered butterfly, Library of Congress

The chequered wings were a symbol of Whistler's mourning for his late wife Beatrice Philip (Mrs E. W. Godwin, Mrs J. McN. Whistler) (1857-1896).

The sheet is catalogued in MacDonald 1995 (cat. rais.) [more] (cat. no. 1570).

Images

Subject

Description

r.: Butterfly; v.: Chequered butterfly, Library of Congress

A puffed up butterfly against shaded trefoil-shaped wings, with a long barbed tail extending to right.

v.: Chequered butterfly, Library of Congress

The partial butterfly on the verso has a long wriggly tail, and chequered wings.

Comments

In 1894 William Eden (1849-1915) commissioned a portrait of his wife Sybil Frances Grey, Lady Eden (1867-1945). Whistler, dissatisfied with the amount (100gns) and manner of payment, retained and altered the portrait (Brown and Gold: Portrait of Lady Eden y408). After an appeal, in December 1897, the Court de Cassation let him retain the portrait but return the money. Whistler was well satisfied to see the Code Napoléon altered, to specify an artist's right to decide the fate of his works.

Whistler planned to publish an account of the affair, a compilation of letters, newspaper reports and legal documents, with William Heinemann (1863-1920), who had published the Gentle Art of Making Enemies in 1890. There was some problem with publishing in London, and, with Heinemann’s tacit agreement, Louis-Henry May in Paris took over the publication. A first proof was run off, using mainly butterflies originally drawn for the Gentle Art of Making Enemies. These butterflies were mostly replaced by new ones, in a second proof. There are at least two versions of some of the designs. They were slightly reduced in size in the final publication.

For the book, Whistler designed 15 butterflies, a club (A club on a cushion m1564), and a frog (Frog m1553). He also drew some butterflies which were not used (v.: Butterfly; r.: see No. 1268 m1572, Butterfly with chequered wings m1578, r.: Butterfly; v.: Butterfly with chequered wings m1579). The Baronet and the Butterfly was comparatively sparing of butterflies. Many marginal annotations, which in the Gentle Art of Making Enemies would have warranted a butterfly, did not get one. Some of the butterflies were very badly reproduced (r. and v.: Butterfly m1561, r.: Butterfly 'Encountered'; v.: Butterfly m1562). There were obviously publication problems, and it was not an entirely satisfactory venture. However, Whistler did not admit of criticism and seems, publicly, to have been entirely satisfied with the outcome.

Technique

Composition

r.: Butterfly, Library of Congress

Eden versus Whistler: The Baronet and the Butterfly. A Valentine with a Verdict, p. 58, Glasgow University Library

This was drawn for publication in Whistler 1899 (F)[more]. The butterfly was used for the reflection, 'Shocking bad raconteur, Sir William!…' rather than for p. 43. It was reduced to a small scale as suggested, 7mm. At this size details were barely visible although its jauntiness was apparent.

Technique

A lot of white paint was used to eliminate errors, possibly during the reproductive process.

Conservation History

The paper has rough edges, particularly at left, where it was torn along a fold. There are pin holes at the corners. The paper is smooth and shiny. Attached is a scrap cut from a catalogue '101. Original Drawing of Butterflies. With Whistler's directions to photo-engraver and printer.'

v.: Chequered butterfly, Library of Congress

Verso, the card has been torn and only part of the butterfly survived, with its diamond-chequered wings, crossed out.

History

Provenance

• 1917: given by Elizabeth Robins Pennell (1855-1936) and Joseph Pennell (1860-1926) to the Library of Congress.

See details in MacDonald 1995 (cat. rais.) [more] (cat. no. 1570).

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. 1570) as 'r.: Butterfly; v.: Chequered butterfly'.

Authored by Whistler

• Whistler, James McNeill, Eden versus Whistler: The Baronet and the Butterfly. A Valentine with a Verdict, Paris: Louis-Henry May, 1899, p. 58.

Websites

• Library of Congress website at http://www.loc.gov.