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

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M.1550
r.: Butterfly for 'Noblesse abuse'; v.: tail

Artist: James McNeill Whistler
Date: 1899
Collection: Glasgow University Library
Accession Number: Whistler 292 f.15-6
Medium: r.: pencil, pen, black ink and white paint; v.: pencil
Support: cream wove paper, bound into volume of 'Eden versus Whistler: The Baronet and the Butterfly'
Size: 4-4 1/4 x 4 3/4" (102-108 x 121 mm)
Signature: butterfly
Inscription: 'Scale of Butterfly from/ top of antennae to foot/ Noblesse abuse'
print

r.: Butterfly for 'Noblesse abuse'; v.: tail

Composition

r.: Butterfly for 'Noblesse abuse', Glasgow University Library
r.: Butterfly for 'Noblesse abuse', Glasgow University Library
"Noblesse abuse!", Eden versus Whistler: The Baronet and the Butterfly, Glasgow University Library
"Noblesse abuse!", Eden versus Whistler: The Baronet and the Butterfly, Glasgow University Library

This butterfly replaced Butterfly for 'Noblesse abuse!' [M.1549], and was in turn replaced by Butterfly for 'Noblesse abuse!' [M.1551], for publication in Whistler 1899 (F)[more], p. i.

Technique

It was drawn in pencil, pen and black ink, with corrections in white paint. In the final version, Butterfly for 'Noblesse abuse!' [M.1551], the butterfly is bowing to the left, and the trefoil/wings are more oval, and not so broken up as in this study

Conservation History

This is one of several drawings inset into sheets before being bound into a copy of the The Baronet and the Butterfly. The sheet is darkened and foxed, with small holes at upper left.

Last updated: 17th April 2019 by Margaret