Titles

Possible titles include:

• Possibly 'Nocturne, Battersea' (1921, Pennell). 1
• 'Nocturne' (1935, M. H. de Young Museum, San Francisco). 2
• 'Nocturne' (1980, YMSM). 3

'Nocturne' is the preferred title.

Description

A riverscape in horizontal format. Factories, chimneys and spoil heaps are visible on the distant river bank, and a small boat or lighter on the river, by the near-shore, towards the lower right. A few leaves are seen at the lower right edge.

Site

Battersea, seen from the Chelsea side of the river Thames. It is a similar view to that seen in Nocturne in Blue and Silver [YMSM 113], but with variations, the spire being omitted, and a large building with a dome replacing it.

Comments

Walter Greaves (1846-1930) undoubtedly painted comparable views of Battersea Reach Nocturne [YMSM 114], and it had been considered that this painting could have been by him, but it does appear to be a genuine, if repainted, work by Whistler.