Variations in Blue and Green is one of the 'Six Projects' and dates from 1868. 1 The 'Six Projects' comprise Venus [YMSM 082], Symphony in Green and Violet [YMSM 083], Variations in Blue and Green [YMSM 084], Symphony in White and Red [YMSM 085] and Symphony in Blue and Pink [YMSM 086] and The White Symphony: Three Girls [YMSM 087]. This group of paintings was mentioned by William Michael Rossetti (1829-1919) in his diary for 28 July 1868, when he wrote that Whistler was 'doing on a largish scale for Leyland the subject of women and flowers.' 2

Variations in Blue and Green, Freer Gallery of Art

It was probably the painting seen and described by Algernon Charles Swinburne (1837-1909) in the spring of 1868 as 'a gathering of women on a balcony.' 3

It was first exhibited Mr Whistler's Exhibition, Flemish Gallery, 48 Pall Mall, London, 1874 (cat. no. 12) as 'Variations in Blue and Green'.