Titles

Several possible titles have been suggested:

• Possibly 'Nocturne in Blue and Silver' (1878, Grosvenor). 1
• Possibly 'Nocturne en bleu et argent' (1883, Petit). 2
• Possibly 'Nocturne – Blue and Gold' (1898, Goupil). 3
• 'Arrangement in Grey and Gold, Nocturne, Battersea Bridge' (1905, ISSPG). 4
• 'Nocturne, Battersea (Arrangement in Grey and Gold)' (1908, Pennell). 5
• 'Nocturne in Blue and Silver' (1980, YMSM). 6

Description

Nocturne in Blue and Silver, Yale Center for British Art

A night scene, in horizontal format, showing the view across a broad river, with a small boat at lower right. The buildings dimly seen across the river include a church tower at left, and factory chimneys and a spoil heap to its right. The river recedes into the distance at right.

Site

The title given to this painting for its exhibition in 1905 is misleading because Battersea Bridge is not shown.

The site is the River Thames in London. Nocturne in Blue and Silver [YMSM 151] and Nocturne: Blue and Silver - Battersea Reach [YMSM 152] appear to represent the same view. It is basically a view of Battersea Reach from Chelsea similar to Grey and Silver: Chelsea Wharf [YMSM 054], Nocturne in Blue and Silver [YMSM 113], Nocturne [YMSM 114], Nocturne: Blue and Silver - Battersea Reach [YMSM 119], and Nocturne: Battersea [YMSM 120]. The clock tower appears like that in Nocturne: Westminster - Grey and Gold [YMSM 144] and Nocturne: Grey and Silver [YMSM 156]. Anna Robins comments on the precision with which Whistler represented the silhouette of the Morgan Crucible Company. 7