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

 

M.1581
Sketch of the Peacock Room

Artist: James McNeill Whistler
Date: 17 December 1898
Collection: Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number: 1927.5883
Medium: graphite pencil
Support: cream wove paper, printed ‘THE RESTAURANT FRASCATI / (WITH SPECIAL MUSICAL PROGRAMMES). / WILL BE OPEN ON CHRISTMAS DAY / FROM 6 p.m., AND ALL DAY ON THE /BANK HOLIDAY.’, also translated into French and German
Size: 187 x 178 mm (7 3/8 x 7")
Signature: none
Inscription: r.: ‘Whistler’s sketch of the Peacock Room – to give me an idea of it – done at Fracato’s [sic], 17th–Dec–1898 – A. Ludovici’ by A. Ludovici; v.: inscribed in unknown hands, 'No.123 of London Catalogue - page 122 - Lent by the artist Ludovici - (1898)/ £110.' and 'a50081// 27.5883// R.10445// FH0'; collector's stamp 'CD' (Charles Deering)

Sketch of the Peacock Room

Composition

Sketch of the Peacock Room, Art Institute of Chicago
Sketch of the Peacock Room, Art Institute of Chicago
North-eastern corner of the Peacock Room, Freer Gallery of Art
North-eastern corner of the Peacock Room, Freer Gallery of Art

Rough memory sketches of Harmony in Blue and Gold: The Peacock Room [YMSM 178], done more than twenty years after Whistler had completed it.

Technique

The drawing is vigorous, and yet the artist carefully fill in areas of shading to give the peacocks added emphasis. He was apparently not happy about the position of the neck and head of the peacock on the right, and drew it twice.

Sketch of the Peacock Room, Art Institute of Chicago
Sketch of the Peacock Room, Art Institute of Chicago

See further details in Clarke, Jay A., and Sarah Kelly Oehler, eds., Whistler Paintings and Drawings at the Art Institute of Chicago, The Art Institute of Chicago, 2020, website.

Conservation History

The paper is a dark cream, browned, and has darkened within the mount. It was once folded horizontally through the centre.

Last updated: 11th December 2020 by Margaret