Description

Butterfly, Pennell Collection, Library of Congress, Washington, DC

Butterfly with chequered wings, Pennell Collection, Library of Congress, Washington, DC

The butterflies are derived, remotely, from Whistler's monogram 'JW', with the addition of long curvied barbed tails.

Comments

In 1894 William Eden (1849-1915) commissioned a portrait of his wife Sybil Frances Grey, Lady Eden (1867-1945). Whistler, dissatisfied with the amount (100gns) and manner of payment, retained and altered the portrait (Brown and Gold: Portrait of Lady Eden [YMSM 408]). After an appeal, in December 1897, the Court de Cassation let him retain the portrait but return the money. Whistler was well satisfied to see the Code Napoléon altered, to specify an artist's right to decide the fate of his works.

Whistler planned to publish an account of the affair, a compilation of letters, newspaper reports and legal documents, with William Heinemann (1863-1920), who had published the Gentle Art of Making Enemies in 1890. There was some problem with publishing in London, and, with Heinemann’s tacit agreement, Louis-Henry May in Paris took over the publication. A first proof was run off, using mainly butterflies originally drawn for the Gentle Art of Making Enemies. These butterflies were mostly replaced by new ones, in a second proof. There are at least two versions of some of the designs. They were slightly reduced in size in the final publication.

For the book, Whistler designed 15 butterflies, a club (A club on a cushion [M.1564]), and a frog (Frog [M.1553]). He also drew some butterflies which were not used (v.: Butterfly; r.: see No. 1268 [M.1572], Butterfly with chequered wings [M.1578], r.: Butterfly; v.: Butterfly with chequered wings [M.1579]). The Baronet and the Butterfly was comparatively sparing of butterflies. Many marginal annotations, which in the Gentle Art of Making Enemies would have warranted a butterfly, did not get one. Some of the butterflies were very badly reproduced (r. and v.: Butterfly [M.1561], r.: Butterfly 'Encountered'; v.: Butterfly [M.1562]). There were obviously publication problems, and it was not an entirely satisfactory venture. However, Whistler did not admit of criticism and seems, publicly, to have been entirely satisfied with the outcome.