Elizabeth Willis

Identity:

She was the daughter of Mrs Willis, who was housekeeper at 8 Fitzroy Street from the summer of 1896-1897.

It is just possible she was Elizabeth M. Willis, recorded in the 1901 UK census as the eight year old daughter Thomas J. Willis, frame maker, and Mary A. Willis. They had two daughters and three sons, and were then living in Hernshaw street, Southwark. However, this seems a little too young.

Life:

Whistler painted three pictures of Lizzie (Little Juniper Bud - Lizzie Willis y475, Little Lizzie Willis y476 and The Little London Sparrow y477 and a drawing, Lizzie Willis m1501 .

Bibliography:

Young, Andrew McLaren, Margaret F. MacDonald, Robin Spencer and Hamish Miles, The Paintings of James McNeill Whistler, New Haven and London, 1980, cat. no. 475-477; MacDonald, Margaret F., James McNeill Whistler. Drawings, Pastels and Watercolours. A Catalogue Raisonné, New Haven and London, 1995