Titles
Several possible titles have been suggested:
- 'Nocturne; Silver and Opal – Chelsea' (1884, Dowdeswell). 1
- 'Nocturne en opale: Chelsea' (1887, Petit). 2
- 'Nocturne Opal & Silver' (1892, Whistler). 3
- 'Opal and Silver' (1892, Whistler). 4
- 'Nocturne – Opal and Silver' (1892, Goupil). 5
- 'Nocturne: Silver and Opal – Chelsea' (1980, YMSM). 6
'Nocturne: Silver and Opal – Chelsea' is the preferred title.
Description
Nocturne: Silver and Opal – Chelsea, Freer Gallery of Art
A night scene in horizontal format. It shows a broad river obscured by mist and darkness. There is a hint of lights on a tower on the far bank of the river at left; to right of this, the low span of a bridge crosses the river. At right, there is a barely discernible boat with warning lights lit.
Site
The River Thames in London, showing the old Chelsea Bridge, built in 1858 (and not replaced until 1934).
Notes:
1: 'Notes' - 'Harmonies' - 'Nocturnes', Messrs Dowdeswell, London, 1884 (cat. no. 25).
2: Exposition Internationale de Peinture et de Sculpture, Galerie Georges Petit, Paris, 1887, 1887 (cat. no. 165) .
3: Whistler to D. C. Thomson, [4 January 1892], GUW #08214.
4: Whistler to D. C. Thomson, [8 February 1892], GUW #05682.
5: Nocturnes, Marines & Chevalet Pieces, Goupil Gallery, London, 1892 (cat. no. 11).
Last updated: 6th February 2021 by Margaret
