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.
Last updated: 19th October 2020 by Margaret
