Walter Stanton Brewster

Identity:

Walter Stanton Brewster (1872-1954) was a Chicago broker and print collector.

Life:

A graduate of Yale, Brewster became a Trustee of the Art Institute of Chicago. He was fascinated by Whistler, both the man and artist and formed an important collection of Whistler etchings, as well as many other items pertaining to the artist. He gave Coast Scene: Bathers y326 and Study of a Girl's Head and Shoulders y486as well as his extensive collection of Whistleriana to the Art Institute of Chicago, including prints, correspondence, newspaper cuttings and photographs.

Among his Whistler etchings was a cancelled set, published by the Fine Art Society in London in 1879, acquired by Brewster from Walter M. Hill, another Chicago collector. Brewster also had a bound edition of 26 cancelled impressions from the 'Second Venice Set' and a bound 'Naval Review' set similar to that presented by Whistler to Queen Victoria as a Jubilee gift in June 1887.

Bibliography:

Brewster, Walter Stone, Catalogue of an exhibition of Whistleriana from the collection of Walter S. Brewster, Caxton Club, 1917; Brewster, Walter S., Collection of Whistleriana, 1871-1947 (bulk 1917-1937) ; Art Institute of Chicago; Lugt, Frits, Les marques de collections de dessins et d'estampes: marques estampillèes et écrites de collections particulières et publiques; marques de marchands, de monteurs et d'imprimeurs; etc..., Amsterdam, 1921 (2651a); Prentiss, Mildred J., 'Prints and Drawings by Rodolphe Bresdin', Bulletin of the Art Institute of Chicago, vol. 25, no. 4, April 1931, pp. 55-56.