Detail from The Canal, Amsterdam, 1889, James McNeill Whistler, The Hunterian, University of Glasgow

 

M.1454
H. C. Pollitt

Artist: James McNeill Whistler
Date: 1896
Collection: Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number: 1934.681
Medium: lithographic crayon
Support: thin, transparent transfer paper, tipped onto card
Size: 9 15/16 x 6 1/4" sheet (237 x 158 mm); image 151 x 134 mm
Signature: butterfly
Inscription: r.: '1943', v.: 'W9233' in unknown hands; two collector's marks (both Bryan Lathrop's)

H. C. Pollitt

Technique

H. C. Pollitt, Art Institute of Chicago
H. C. Pollitt, Art Institute of Chicago

The crayon shows up well on the shiny papier végétal transfer paper, but the drawing was never proofed or printed. 1

Conservation History

The paper has been folded and it would seem Whistler crumpled it up and threw it away. There is a short (12 mm) tear to right of Pollitt's left foot, a slightly rough edge on the right, getting more rough towards upper right, with tears at the upper and lower right corners.

Notes:

1: See further details in Stephanie L. Strother, 'Cat. 37 H. C. Pollitt, 1896: Curatorial Entry,' in Clarke, Jay A., and Sarah Kelly Oehler, eds., Whistler Paintings and Drawings at the Art Institute of Chicago, The Art Institute of Chicago, 2020, website (cat. no. 37).

Last updated: 11th December 2020 by Margaret