Titles

Two titles have been suggested for the painting:

• 'Study of Carlyle on Back of Canvas' (1921, Pennell). 1
• 'Sketch for the Portrait of Carlyle (1)' (1980, YMSM). 2

The title 'Sketch for the Portrait of Carlyle (1)' (used in the 1980 catalogue) is retained here.

Description

Sketch for the Portrait of Carlyle, Private collection

The Sketch for the Portrait of Carlyle (1) [YMSM 133] shows a seated man in black, in profile to left, unfinished; it is in horizontal format. It is on the verso of Nocturne Violet and Gold – Winter by Walter Greaves (1846-1930).

Sketch for the Portrait of Carlyle (rotated), Private collection

Underneath this rough sketch, a full length figure is just visible, painted at right angles to the study of Carlyle. It shows a woman in a long white dress standing on a beige floor before a black dado.

Site

Not identifiable.

Sitter

The sitter for Whistler's completed portrait was Thomas Carlyle (1795-1881).

Walter Greaves is known to have painted several portraits of Carlyle, probably from memory. A good example is in the Scottish National Portrait Gallery (PG 982).