Provenance

• 1903: in Whistler's studio at his death and bequeathed to his sister-in-law Rosalind Birnie Philip (1873-1958);
• 1935: given by Miss Birnie Philip to the University of Glasgow.

Exhibitions

• 1901: 3rd Exhibition, Pictures, Drawings, Prints and Sculptures, International Society of Sculptors, Painters and Gravers, Galleries of the Royal Institute, London, 1901 (cat. no. 36) as 'Green and Silver – The Great Sea'.

Grey and Silver: Pourville [YMSM 522] and Green and Silver: The Great Sea [YMSM 518] were described in 1901 as 'notes of the shifting light and colour of sea and sky' and 'pleasant little studies of the sea.' 1 The Glasgow Herald on 5 October 1901 wrote that they were 'true in tone' and 'weave an enchantment for us'. The British Architect admired the 'beautiful colour.' 2

By the terms of Miss R. Birnie Philip's gift to the University of Glasgow, it is not lendable.