The Paintings of James McNeill Whistler

Date

This sketchbook was used mainly as a notebook, and can be dated from references to Carmen Rossi (b. ca 1878 and the Académie Carmen in Paris (see Danseuse athénienne m1072) on pp. 15-16. There are also references to earlier matters, such as, on p. 58, a ‘smug account’ by Herbert Schmalz. ¹

Butterfly, front cover, sketchbook, The Hunterian, University of Glasgow

It is catalogued in MacDonald 1995 (cat. rais.) [more] (cat. no. 1580).

Images

Subject

Description

Butterfly, front cover, sketchbook, The Hunterian

Front cover: Butterfly with chequered wings, clouds or a face (?), pen and black ink.

Framed picture of a woman, inside front cover, sketchbook, The Hunterian

Inside front cover: Framed picture of a woman, pen and black ink.

Man’s head, sketchbook (p. 7), The Hunterian

p. 7: Man’s head, pencil.

Technique

Technique

Framed picture of a woman, inside front cover, sketchbook, The Hunterian

Man’s head, sketchbook (p. 7), The Hunterian

See MacDonald 1995 (cat. rais.) [more] (cat. no. 1580).

Conservation History

The sheets are browned.

History

Provenance

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

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. 1580) as 'Sketchbook'.

Websites

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

Other

• Schmalz, Herbert, 'A Painter’s Pilgrimage', Art Journal, 1893, pp. 97-102.