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

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M.0706
r. and v.: Design for the cover of 'Whistler v. Ruskin: Art and Art Critics'

Artist: James McNeill Whistler
Date: 1878
Collection: Private Collection
Accession Number: none
Medium: pencil, pen, black ink and wash
Support: brown paper
Size: 7 1/2 x 5 1/2" (196 x 139 mm)
Signature: r. and v.: butterfly
Inscription: 'Whistler v Ruskin // J. A. McN. Whistler/ The White House/ Chelsea - // Dec. 24. 1878.'
print

r. and v.: Design for the cover of 'Whistler v. Ruskin: Art and Art Critics'

Provenance

  • 1878: probably acquired from the artist by Thomas Way (1837-1915), who printed Whistler v. Ruskin: Art and Art Critics;
  • By 1912: owned by his son, Thomas Robert Way (1861-1913);
  • 1913: possibly given by Mrs Way to Pickford Robert Waller (1849-1930), London, in July 1913 (note on photograph, Knoedler archives);
  • 1930: bequeathed to his daughter, Sybil Christina Waller (1882-1973);
  • 1965: sold at auction,Christie's, London, 12 November 1965 (lot 32) and bought by Knoedler, New York dealers (#WCA 3549 #7);
  • 1965: bought by Shirley Latter Schlesinger Kaufmann (Mrs Robert B. Kaufmann) (1916-2003) and given to her son.

The events of 1913 are not entirely clear: see also Design for the cover of 'Whistler v. Ruskin: Art and Art Critics' [M.0707].

Exhibitions

It was not exhibited in Whistler's lifetime.

Last updated: 26th May 2021 by Margaret