Portrait Sketch of Walter Sickert possibly dates from between 1885 and 1887, but it is difficult to judge in its unfinished state, and is not entirely consistent with Whistler's work at that time. 1

Portrait Sketch of Walter Sickert, whereabouts unknown

The date of the portrait is not clear from the correspondence between artist and sitter. Sickert wrote to Whistler, possibly in December 1885 or 1886, that he had paid for his portrait, but, later, possibly in October 1887, he mentioned that £52.10.0 was outstanding 'to complete the 200 guineas.' 2 Unfortunately, it is not known if one or other or both of these payments were for a full-length, Portrait of Walter Sickert [YMSM 349], or for the two head-and-shoulder portraits of Sickert painted about the same time (this portrait and Sketch Portrait of Walter Sickert [YMSM 350]).