Provenance

• 1895: sold by the artist to Isabella Stewart Gardner (1840-1924), Boston;
• 1924: bequeathed to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum.

It is not known what happened to it at the time of Whistler's bankruptcy in 1879, if indeed it was still in Whistler's possession at that time, which is not certain.

It may have been the 'Nocturne in Grey & Silver' sold to Alfred Chapman (1839-1917), Liverpool, in 1874, and exhibited at Goupil's in 1892 (cat. no. 25) as ' "Nocturne". Battersea Reach'. 1 Whistler was able to buy back a 'Nocturne Blue & Silver' – possibly this painting , and possibly in 1892 – with the help of David Croal Thomson (1855-1930).. 2

This may have been the painting described by Whistler to the New York art dealer Edward Guthrie Kennedy (1849-1932), later in 1892, as 'The Little Battersea Reach': 'I hope the pictures - yours I mean - are all looking their best - ... They were very little seen in my studio - only to one or two painters - and mind you The Little Battersea reach was much extolled by the Frenchmen.' 3 If so it may have been the 'unsigned Chelsea picture' (Chelsea being opposite Battersea) about which Whistler was to write a letter to assist Kennedy in selling it when he returned to New York. 4

Nocturne: Blue and Silver - Battersea Reach [YMSM 152] is almost certainly the painting referred to by Whistler in a letter from Paris to E. G. Kennedy on 4 February 1894:

'The Nocturne "Blue & Silver Battersea" that you speak of I ought to have £800 for - However if you have a client or mean business in any way and will send me a cheque for £600, I will send you the picture - for you can keep it better than I can - These Whistlers you know are getting scarce now - I have only that one and the "Fire Wheel, Black & Gold" left - The fire wheel you know I want £1000 guineas for.' 5

On 9 February 1894, Whistler added: 'In a little while it will be £800 - and then £1000'. 6 He also tried to sell the Nocturne (this time he called it 'Nocturne Blue & Silver') to D. C. Thomson of Goupil's in London, and also to Alexander Reid (1854-1928) in Glasgow. 7 It was may also have been exhibited in Antwerp in 1894; on 13 July 1894 Whistler asked if Kennedy wanted him to send 'the Little Chelsea Blue & Silver Nocturne' to America after the exhibition in Antwerp. 8 Nocturne: Blue and Silver – Battersea Reach is 'small' in that it is the smallest of his Battersea paintings.

However, after all this negotiating, 'Nocturne: Blue & Silver – Battersea Reach' was sold by Whistler to Mrs Gardner in Paris on 25 June 1895 for 600 guineas. 9 'Mrs Jack' he told Kennedy triumphantly, 'carried off the last blue Nocturne.' 10 And despite temporary delays caused by the Customs in New York, 'Blue & Silver – Battersea Reach' was eventually delivered to Mrs Gardner. 11

Exhibitions

• 1892: Possibly Nocturnes, Marines & Chevalet Pieces, Goupil Gallery, London, 1892 (cat. no. 25) as ‘ “Nocturne”. Battersea Reach' (see Nocturne: Battersea Reach [YMSM 160]):
• 1894: Possibly Große Kunst-Ausstellung des Kunst-Vereins in der Kunsthalle Hamburg, Hamburg, 1894.
• 1894: Possibly Exposition Universelle des Beaux-Arts, Antwerp, 1894 as 'Battersea Reach'.
• 1898: Loan Exhibition of Pictures by Modern Painters, Copley Society, Boston, 1898 (91) as 'Symphony in Blue'.
• 1899: Exhibition, Mrs. John L. Gardner, 152 Beacon St., Boston (cat. no. 9).

It is not certain that this was the painting shown at Goupil's in 1892: (see Nocturne: Battersea Reach [YMSM 160]).

In a list of paintings to be exhibited in Antwerp in 1894, Whistler listed it as 'Nocturne Blue & Silver, Battersea Reach' and he queried whether it was exhibited in the Große Kunst-Ausstellung des Kunst-Vereins in der Kunsthalle Hamburg, Hamburg, 1894. 12

Paintings for exhibition in Antwerp, private collection

It appears on the right of Whistler's panel in a tiny pen sketch, Paintings for exhibition in Antwerp [M.1427]. 13 However, the order of hanging had to be changed and was, according to Charles Sprague Pearce (1851-1914) 'Valparaiso / Miss Corder / Fireworks / Battersea reach / Sarasate / Little Girl in White'. 14