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

 

M.0693
r.: Maud Franklin; v.: Study of Maud Franklin

Artist: James McNeill Whistler
Date: 1878
Collection: The Hunterian, University of Glasgow
Accession Number: GLAHA 46078
Medium: chalk
Support: brown wove paper
Size: 12 7/16 x 7 5/8' (316 x 194 mm)
Signature: butterfly
Inscription: 'Je trouve cela très ressemblante / Sarah Bernhardt' written by Sarah Bernhardt in ink on the glass

r.: Maud Franklin; v.: Study of Maud Franklin

Sitter

r.: Maud Franklin, The Hunterian
r.: Maud Franklin, The Hunterian

Maud Franklin (1857-ca 1941) . On 12 February 1880 Thomas Way (1837-1915) described it as one of 'The two framed studies of Miss F. in the old chair'. 1

The suggestion that it showed Sara Bernhardt (1844-1923) arose at Whistler's bankruptcy sale in 1880. 2 Oscar Wilde bought it at that time and, according to the Pennells, he asked Bernhardt 'to sign it, which she did, writing also that it was very like her.' 3

At the time of the Wilde sale in 1895, D. C. Thomson described it as 'your Drawing of Sara Bernhard' and 'the little drawing with a pen & ink remark on the second glass' but Beatrice Philip (Mrs E. W. Godwin, Mrs J. McN. Whistler) (1857-1896) assured him 'it is not Sarah Bernhardt at all.' 4 Whistler explained that it had been thought to represent Sara Bernhardt 'and she wrote on the glass that she considered it very like!!' 5

Notes:

1: Way to Whistler, GUW #06080.

2: Sotheby, London, 12-13 February 1880 (lot 82) described 'perhaps erroneously' as 'Sarah Bernhardt, seated, holding a book'

3: Pennell 1908 [more] , vol. 1, p. 260.

4: Thomson to Whistler, 24 and 27 April 1895, GUW #05817 and #05819; Beatrice Whistler to Thomson, [25 April 1895], GUW #08286.

5: Whistler to E. G. Brown, [21 September 1895], GUW #03626

Last updated: 7th December 2020 by Margaret