Titles

Only one title has been suggested:

• 'Portrait of Miss Leyland (2)' (1980, YMSM). 1

Description

According to Way & Dennis, 'At least three studies of Mr. Leyland's daughters were painted . . . [in one] the model, in a long white dress with a large white hat, stands on gray matting against a black background'. 2

Study for 'Portrait of Miss Leyland', British Museum

The description corresponds to a pen drawing, Study for 'Portrait of Miss Leyland' [M.0501], which shows a girl standing against a dark background in a light dress, facing forward; she has a large hat and long hair, and there are three rows of flounces on her full-length skirt.

Sitter

This may have been a portrait of Fanny Leyland (1857-1880), the eldest Leyland daughter, who was born 29 October 1857. She became the second wife of James Stevenson (1838-1926) but died shortly after the birth of their son, Frances Herbert Stevenson (1880-1949).

In 1874 Whistler made a drypoint of her, Fanny Leyland [135], in a seated pose; she had long curly hair, and was wearing a long flounced dress.

Although known as Study for 'Portrait of Miss Leyland' [M.0501], it is difficult to tell if this is really a study for Portrait of Miss Leyland (2) [YMSM 110] because other portraits, such as Miss May Alexander [YMSM 127], show a girl in similar dress.

A pen drawing, Study for 'Portrait of Miss Leyland' [M.0501], was reproduced by Duret, without identification, and by the Pennells, wrongly identified as a study for Miss May Alexander [YMSM 127]. 3