Technique

Flight of Xerxes, Metropolitan Museum of Art

The pencil work is immature and tentative, with careful, but incomplete, outlines and diagonal shading. A double margin was ruled all the way round. The paper is probably wove, has a smooth surface and is darkened.

Conservation History

The Winans Scrapbook contains 57 sketches. It is not known exactly when the album was put together. The earliest drawing in the album is this one, dated 27 February 1843, but most date from his years at West Point. Some titles were written on the drawings, and a few on the sheets of the album, in Whistler's hand, so he helped to put it together, possibly as late as 1855, before leaving for Paris. Later works, including etchings from the 'French Set', must have been added by members of the Winans family.

The pages of the album were of thin wove paper, which became browned and fragile. The drawings have now been removed from the scrapbook and some have been laid down.