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

 

Sea and Rain

Sea and Rain is dated '65' on the canvas, and was painted during Whistler's stay in Trouville, probably between October and November 1865. 1


                Sea and Rain, Museum of Art, University of Michigan
Sea and Rain, Museum of Art, University of Michigan

On 20 October 1865 Whistler wrote to Lucas (Luke) Alexander Ionides (1837-1924) from Trouville, 'I am staying here to finish two or three sea pieces which I wish to bring back with me - I believe they will be fine - and worth quite anything of the kind I have ever done.' 2 On 26 October Whistler told Ionides that he planned to stay until about 10 November 1865, adding, 'My pictures I think you will like very much - The Sea is splendid at this moment but I am anxious to get back.' 3

Sea and Rain is very similar in composition and treatment to another Trouville seascape of 1865, Harmony in Blue and Silver: Trouville [YMSM 064].

Sea and Rain was seen by William Michael Rossetti (1829-1919) on 31 March 1867, when he recommended Whistler to submit it to the Royal Academy. 4 Whistler apparently agreed, and it was exhibited at the 99th Exhibition of the Royal Academy of Arts, London, 1867 (cat. no. 670) as 'Sea and Rain'.

Notes:

1: YMSM 1980 [more] (cat. no. 65); see also Pennell 1908 [more] , vol. 1, pp. 137, 144; vol. 2, p. 127.

2: GUW #11310.

3: GUW #11311.

4: Rossetti 1903 [more] , pp. 222, 228.

Last updated: 11th November 2021 by Margaret