Portrait of Lady Archibald Campbell in Court Dress dates from about 1882. 1

The Pennells imply that it was one of three portraits, with The Grey Lady: Portrait of Lady Archibald Campbell [YMSM 241] and Arrangement in Black: La Dame au brodequin jaune - Portrait of Lady Archibald Campbell [YMSM 242], painted in about 1882, and quotes a letter from the sitter in which she stated,

'His first idea was to paint me in court dress. The dress was black velvet, the train was silver satin with the Argyle arms embroidered in applique in their proper colours. He made a sketch of me in the dress. The fatigue of standing with the train was too great, and he abandoned the idea.' 2

Crucy thought Valerie Susan Meux (née Langdon) (1847-1910) introduced Whistler to Lady Archie and that eventually friends dissuaded her from sitting further. 3