The Paintings of James McNeill Whistler
M.1608
Head and shoulders of a girl
Date
Head and shoulders of a girl dates from about 21 July 1900. 1
Head and shoulders of a girl, Glasgow University Library
It is catalogued in MacDonald 1995 (cat. rais.) [more] (cat. no. 1608).
Images
Head and shoulders of a girl, Glasgow University Library
Subject
Sitter
Head and shoulders of a girl, Glasgow University Library
Probably Lilian ('Lily') Pamington (b. 1887/1888).
Technique
Technique
Head and shoulders of a girl, Glasgow University Library
The letter was written in ink. Whistler signed it in pencil and went on to sketch the tiny figure (47 mm high) with wiry, pothooked lines, and broken outlines.
Conservation History
The sheet was probably torn from a folded sheet of notepaper, having a torn edge on the left, and was then folded in half horizontally. The fold is just above the drawing. The paper has a slight vertical grain which shows through the soft pencil lines. There are eleven pinholes in the top right corner, probably when the letter was pinned to other documents.
History
Provenance
- 1903: in Whistler's studio at his death, and bequeathed to his ward and executrix, Rosalind Birnie Philip (1873-1958) ;
- 1955: given 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. 1608) as 'Head and shoulders of a girl'.
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. GUW #00570.
Notes:
1: It is drawn on the verso of a draft letter, written by R. Birnie Philip and signed by Whistler, to the Secretary of the Caxton Club, GUW #00570.