Titles

Whistler's original title is not known. Only one title has been suggested:

• 'Study of an Italian Boy' (1980, YMSM). 1

Description

Study of an Italian Boy, The Hunterian

An unfinished half-length portrait of a boy, in vertical format. He is facing the viewer. His brown hair is shoulder-length, his eyes are dark brown.

Sitter

Unknown. Whistler painted a number of portraits of Italian children. Harold Wright (1885-1961), who obtained most of his information from Whistler's sister-in-law Rosalind Birnie Philip (1873-1958), noted that Whistler thought the boy 'de race', that is, he looked like a thorough-bred or aristocrat.

The Hunterian website suggested that this was the same boy as in Brun et or: De race [YMSM 511]. However, his colouring is lighter, his mouth larger, his features heavier, and he does not look as young and pretty as the boy in Brun et or: De race.