Detail from The Canal, Amsterdam, 1889, James McNeill Whistler, The Hunterian, University of Glasgow

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YMSM 285
A Coast Scene with Boats

Artist: Formerly attributed to James McNeill Whistler
Date: 1900/1903
Collection: Private Collection
Accession Number: none
Medium: oil
Support: wood
Size: 14 x 23.5 cm (5 1/2 x 9 1 1/5")
Signature: butterfly
Inscription: none
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A Coast Scene with Boats

A Coast Scene with Boats may date from 1900 or later. 1

1880/1890s: Andrew McLaren Young (1913-1975) suggested that this dated from the late 1880s or 1890s, but later had doubts as to the artist. 2

1899/1900: The size of the panel is close to that of The Sea, Pourville [YMSM 520] and Grey and Gold: The Golden Bay, Ireland [YMSM 537], dating from 1899 and 1900 respectively. However, the technique and butterfly signature, although they slightly resemble Whistler's late work and signature, are not totally convincing. It is possible that a panel started by Whistler was worked on by someone else.

Notes:

1: YMSM 1980 [more] (cat. no. 285).

2: Young, A. McLaren, James McNeill Whistler, Arts Council Gallery, London, and Knoedler Galleries, New York, 1960 (cat. no. 55); note in GU WPP files. It was dated 'Possibly painted 1884/5' in YMSM 1980 [more] (cat. no. 285).

Last updated: 11th March 2020 by Margaret