Crimson note: Carmen may date from 1895. 1

Crimson note: Carmen, Hill-Stead Museum

On 20 September 1895 the architect Stanford White (1853-1906) wrote to Whistler regretting that he had not seen the painting of Carmen Rossi (b. ca 1878 admired by the sculptor Frederick William MacMonnies (1863-1937):

'I am more and more regretting that I went away from Paris without again seeing the lovely thing that you are doing from Carmen for Freer, and also that I did not see the little head you did of Carmen, which you spoke of, and which MacMonnies says is a diamond of the purest water.' 2

It was first exhibited in 5th exhibition, Society of Portrait Painters, London, 1895 (cat. no. 16) as 'Crimson Note, Carmen'.