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

 

Portrait of Miss Leyland (2)

Titles

Only one title has been suggested:

  • 'Portrait of Miss Leyland (2)' (1980, YMSM). 1

Description

According to Way & Dennis, 'At least three studies of Mr. Leyland's daughters were painted . . . [in one] the model, in a long white dress with a large white hat, stands on gray matting against a black background'. 2


                    Study for 'Portrait of Miss Leyland', British Museum
Study for 'Portrait of Miss Leyland', British Museum

The description corresponds to a pen drawing, Study for 'Portrait of Miss Leyland' [M.0501], which shows a girl standing against a dark background in a light dress, facing forward; she has a large hat and long hair, and there are three rows of flounces on her full-length skirt.

Sitter

This may have been a portrait of Fanny Leyland (1857-1880), the eldest Leyland daughter, who was born 29 October 1857. She became the second wife of James Stevenson (1838-1926) but died shortly after the birth of their son, Frances Herbert Stevenson (1880-1949).

In 1874 Whistler made a drypoint of her, Fanny Leyland [135], in a seated pose; she had long curly hair, and was wearing a long flounced dress.

Although known as Study for 'Portrait of Miss Leyland' [M.0501], it is difficult to tell if this is really a study for Portrait of Miss Leyland (2) [YMSM 110] because other portraits, such as Miss May Alexander [YMSM 127], show a girl in similar dress.

A pen drawing, Study for 'Portrait of Miss Leyland' [M.0501], was reproduced by Duret, without identification, and by the Pennells, wrongly identified as a study for Miss May Alexander [YMSM 127]. 3

Notes:

1: YMSM 1980 [more] (cat. no. 110).

2: Way & Dennis 1903 [more] , p. 46.

3: Duret 1904 [more] , drawing repr. p. 147; Pennell 1908 [more] , vol. 2, f.p. 237.

Last updated: 19th November 2019 by Margaret