The Paintings of James McNeill Whistler
YMSM 008
Self-Portrait
Date
Self-Portrait dates from after Whistler arrived in France in November 1855, and probably from 1856 or 1857. 1
Louis Aubrée (fl. 1870-1899) wrote to Whistler from 5 Impasse du Tir, Malakoff, Hauts-de-Seine, Île-de-France, that about 1879 his father had inherited from 'Me. H. Aubrée', some works by Whistler ('peintures portraits signés de votre nom') dating from about 1855 or 1856, including 'un portrait de l'auteur peint par lui même.' 2
Whistler smoking, Private collection
There is no record of a reply, however, it is possible that the missing self-portrait is Whistler Smoking y009.
Images
Self-Portrait, Whereabouts unknown
Whistler smoking, Private collection
Subject
Titles
Only one title has been suggested:
- 'portrait de l'auteur' (1899, Louis Aubrée). 3
- 'Self-Portrait' (1980, YMSM). 4
'Self-Portrait' is the preferred version.
Description
A self-portrait, signed by the artist.
Sitter
James McNeill Whistler (1834-1903).
Whistler smoking, Private collection
It is possible that this was in fact Whistler Smoking y009, or at least another very similar self-portrait.
Technique
Technique
Unknown.
Conservation History
Unknown.
Frame
Unknown.
History
Provenance
- 1855/1856: painted for the Aubrée family;
- 1879: bequeathed by H. Aubrée (d. ca 1879) to her brother;
- 1899: still owned by the Aubrée family.
Writing in 1899, Louis Aubrée (fl. 1870-1899), 'Mon père à herité il y a une vingtaine d'années - (1879) de peintures portraits ... Ces objets étaient la proprieté de Me. H. Aubrée sa soeur' (translation: 'Twenty years ago my father inherited some portrait paintings ... These were the property of his sister H. Aubrée'). 5 H. Aubrée (d. ca 1879) has not been identified.
Exhibitions
Not exhibited in Whistler's lifetime as far as is known.
Bibliography
Catalogues Raisonnés
- Young, Andrew McLaren, Margaret F. MacDonald, Robin Spencer, and Hamish Miles, The Paintings of James McNeill Whistler, New Haven and London, 1980 (cat. no. 8) as 'Self-Portrait'.
Authored by Whistler
- None.
Catalogues 1855-1905
- None.
Journals 1855-1905
- None.
Monographs
- None.
Books on Whistler
- None.
Books, General
- None.
Catalogues 1906-Present
- None.
Journals 1906-Present
- None.
Websites
- None.
Unpublished
- None.
Other
- None.
Notes:
1: YMSM 1980 [more] (cat. no. 8) suggests 'about 1855/1856.'
2: The letter is not entirely clear. GUW #00216.
3: L. Aubrée to Whistler, 30 December 1899, GUW #00216.
4: YMSM 1980 [more] (cat. no. 8).
5: L. Aubrée to Whistler, 30 December 1899, GUW #00216.