Provenance

• 1899: sold by Whistler to Charles Hessele (fl. 1892-1914), Paris art dealer.

According to a note in a letter-book, Whistler sold several paintings to 'Hessel', probably Charles Hessele (fl. 1892-1914). The note reads:

'Copy of List of pictures sold to Hessel.

The Red Feather.

St Ives - the nets on the hill

Lyme. The Little yellow girl.

Chelsea. Little furniture shop.

Green shop. Calais.

Blue Sea piece Dieppe.' 1

Whistler wrote triumphantly to the New York art dealer, Edward Guthrie Kennedy (1849-1932), on 8 July 1899:

'[A] man here ... has just now carried off seven paintings that you, for the last two years, had not perceived as sufficiently "grown" to be of service - but which properly framed and signed - as they now all are - go to make a mighty pretty little collection, which you ought to try and borrow for your New York Exhibition - When you come back to Paris, after your journeyings, I will take you to the place, where you shall see them all.' 2

The paintings listed as sold to Hessele were The Girl in Red [YMSM 312], Chelsea, Little Furniture Shop [YMSM 373], Green and Gold: A Shop in Calais [YMSM 474], Violet and Blue: The Red Feather [YMSM 503], and Blue Sea Piece, Dieppe [YMSM 525].

The sale may not have gone through as expected. One of the paintings recorded in the ledger remained in Whistler's estate (Green and Gold: A Shop in Calais [YMSM 474]) and three (St Ives, The Nets on the Hill [YMSM 270], Chelsea, Little Furniture Shop [YMSM 373] and Blue Sea Piece, Dieppe [YMSM 525]) cannot be traced with certainty.

Whistler did later attempt to retrieve some canvases that he had decided were unfinished (see The Girl in Red [YMSM 312], and Violet and Blue: The Red Feather [YMSM 503]). It is possible that he later regretted his agreement with Hessele and retained at least some of the pictures.

Exhibitions

• Unknown.