Technique

Portrait of Robert Barr, Detroit Institute of Arts

Although highly coloured, it is painted thinly, with patches of canvas clearly visible. The long loaded strokes of a full brush, outlining Barr's shoulder and his shirt front, appear fresh and spontaneous.

It shows few signs of the frequent long sittings mentioned by the Academy and could have been rubbed down between sessions. 1 The main sign of earlier versions of the portrait is the hat, which has been reduced in size, and wide pentimenti about the head.

However, it is also possible that, as Barr's wife, Eva Bennett (Mrs Robert Barr) (d. ca 1919), stated, Whistler made 'many studies if him', which would account for the frequent sittings. 2

Conservation History

Portrait of Robert Barr, Detroit Institute of Arts

Portrait of Robert Barr, photograph, 1980

The canvas was relined in 1966, at which time the varnish was thinned, scratch marks and old restorations retouched, and it was given a new coating of varnish.

Frame

61 × 55.9 × 7.6 cm (24 x 22 x 3").