Technique

Portrait of Richard A. Canfield, private collection

It is painted thinly on fairly fine weave canvas. A few bolder brushstrokes were used in the modelling of the face, and there are small dots of paint as highlights on the eyes.

In 1908 the Pennells thought it ‘one of Whistler’s master-pieces’, but in 1911 wrote that ‘this was our estimate when we saw the picture in Whistler’s studio. Later it was simply ruined, for he worked on it.' 1

Conservation History

Portrait of Richard A. Canfield, private collection

Portrait of Richard A. Canfield, photograph, 1920

Portrait of Richard A. Canfield, photograph, 1980

Old photographs suggest that it was slightly abraded at the edges, but recent photographs suggest it in good condition.

Frame

Portrait of Richard A. Canfield, photograph, 1920

A 1920 photograph of the frame is reproduced above.