Detail from The Canal, Amsterdam, 1889, James McNeill Whistler, The Hunterian, University of Glasgow

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Louis Herrman

Nationality: German?
Date of birth: 1810 or 1811
Category: art materials

Identity:

Louis Herrman was a partner in the firm of artists' suppliers Gilby and Herrman. His wife, Isabel, was born about 1840 in Lewisham.

Life:

Hermann appears to have left Gilby by 1878 when he had an art gallery at 60 Great Russell Street, Bloomsbury (#08878). Around this time Herman lent Whistler some money, a loan that was negotiated through Charles Augustus Howell. However, Whistler was unable to keep up with repayments (#02778). He was one of the creditors listed in the records of the London Bankruptcy Court on 7 May 1879 (#11711). Indeed, in 1881 he was listed in the Post Office Directory as a 'picture dealer'. However, in the City of London Directory for 1900 he was listed as a partner in Gilbey and Herrmann, printing material manufacturers, at 7 Plum Tree Court.

Bibliography:

UK census 1881 from http://www.familysearch.org (accessed 2004); MacDonald, Margaret F., James McNeill Whistler. Drawings, Pastels and Watercolours. A Catalogue Raisonné, New Haven and London, 1995 ; The Owl in the clouds m0676.