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

 

Lizzie Willis

Sitter


                    Lizzie Willis, Glasgow University Library
Lizzie Willis, Glasgow University Library

Elizabeth Willis (fl. 1890/1900) . The relevant part of the letter reads:

'Conversation this afternoon with Lizzie - simple English child - . . . . . . "Yes - and we had another New Years present last night! - - . . a quarter bottle of Whisky" - . .

Oh - I said, and who had that? -

"Why Daddy and Mother of course" - .

Well, I said, but what should you know about it? - "Why I had some too of course!" - Did you indeed? and how much? - "Well I had a glass to myself - Scotch it was - t'was good! I always has // it - and gin sometimes - and rum - but I likes whisky best I does - " . . . But I said doesn't it make you tipsy! - "Oh - gigle! gigle [sic] - I was drunk once!!" . . . and then the infant became inarticulate in the merriment of her recollections.' 1


                    Little Juniper Bud - Lizzie Willis, The Hunterian
Little Juniper Bud - Lizzie Willis, The Hunterian

She posed for the appropriately titled Little Juniper Bud - Lizzie Willis [YMSM 475].

Notes:

1: [16 January 1897], GUW #04698.

Last updated: 6th March 2021 by Margaret