Titles

The known titles vary only in the form of the sitter's name:

• 'Sketch of Mrs. Charles Whibley' (1973, Colnaghi). 1
• 'Sketch of Miss Ethel Philip' (1980, YMSM). 2

The precise title of the sitter depends on the date of the picture. If this was painted before 1895, when Ethel Philip married Charles Whibley, then 'Sketch of Miss Ethel Philip', as used in the 1980 catalogue raisonné, is correct. If it was painted later, between 1896 and 1903, then 'Sketch of Mrs. Charles Whibley' would have been more correct. Since changing the title would be confusing, it has been decided to stick with the generally accepted title 'Sketch of Miss Ethel Philip'.

Description

Sketch of Miss Ethel Philip, The Hunterian, GLAHA 46371

The head and shoulders of a woman, facing the viewer, her head in a slightly three-quarter view to right. She has a heavy dark fringe and wears a black high-necked dress. The background is a dark brown. The portrait is in vertical format.

Sitter

Ethel Philip (Mrs Whibley), 1896/1898, photograph, GUL Whistler PH1/51

Ethel Whibley and Mrs Birnie Philip, 1896/1909, photo by W. D. Downey, GUL Whistler PH1/51

Ethel Whibley (1861-1920) . In 1895 she married the journalist and critic, Charles Whibley (1859-1930).