Technique

Arrangement in Grey and Green: Portrait of J. J. Cowan, National Gallery of Scotland

Cowan's reminiscences, published in 1933, included an account of his sittings to Whistler. He said that Whistler 'used any amount of black, and used to use a razor frequently in scraping away the paint.' Cowan noted Whistler's comments during one particular sitting, on 4 June 1895. At first Whistler was pleased with the progress of the portrait: 'He looks so damned well that if I didn't know better I would be afraid to touch him.' Later he said, 'It is devilish pretty. This will be an enamel if it is nothing else. When you are tired you have a devilish look.' Cowan posed from 11.15 to 12.27 a.m., but at 12.30 there was 'Lots of rubbing out and despair', and Whistler said, 'It just wants two touches, but how the devil to do them I don't know. We have got into trouble.' On this occasion Cowan posed until 2.45 p.m. when Miss Peck arrived for a sitting for Portrait of Miss Marion Peck [YMSM 439]. 1

Conservation History

n/a

Frame

117.70 x 73.00 x 5.00 cm.