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

 

Nocturne in Blue and Silver

A Nocturne in Blue and Silver, probably dating from between 1871 and 1879, may have been exhibited at the International and Universal Exhibition, Crystal Palace, London, 1884. 1


                Nocturne: The Solent, Gilcrease Institute of American History and Art
Nocturne: The Solent, Gilcrease Institute of American History and Art

                Nocturne: Blue and Silver – Bognor, Freer Gallery of Art
Nocturne: Blue and Silver – Bognor, Freer Gallery of Art

                Nocturne: Blue and Silver – Cremorne Lights, Tate
Nocturne: Blue and Silver – Cremorne Lights, Tate

                Nocturne: Blue and Silver – Battersea Reach, Freer Gallery of Art
Nocturne: Blue and Silver – Battersea Reach, Freer Gallery of Art

                Nocturne: Blue and Silver – Battersea Reach, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
Nocturne: Blue and Silver – Battersea Reach, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

A surprising number of Whistler's nocturnes dating from between 1871 and 1879, several of which could have been described as 'nocturne in blue and silver' (although their titles varied over time), could have been available for exhibition in 1884. Whistler owned some outright, or had deposited them as security for loans. Some were owned by tolerant collectors, and some have simply not been identified. Those possibly available include: Nocturne: Blue and Silver - Bognor [YMSM 100], Nocturne: Blue and Silver - Chelsea [YMSM 103], Nocturne: Blue and Silver - Cremorne Lights [YMSM 115], Nocturne: Blue and Gold - Southampton Water [YMSM 117], Nocturne in Blue and Silver [YMSM 118], Nocturne: Blue and Silver - Battersea Reach [YMSM 119], Nocturne: Battersea [YMSM 120], Nocturne in Blue and Silver [YMSM 151], and Nocturne: Blue and Silver - Battersea Reach [YMSM 152].


                Nocturne: Blue and Silver – Chelsea, Tate
Nocturne: Blue and Silver – Chelsea, Tate

                Nocturne: Blue and Gold – Southampton Water, Art Institute of Chicago
Nocturne: Blue and Gold – Southampton Water, Art Institute of Chicago

                Nocturne in Blue and Silver, Yale Center for British Art
Nocturne in Blue and Silver, Yale Center for British Art

Of these, several – Nocturne: Blue and Silver - Chelsea [YMSM 103], Nocturne: Blue and Gold - Southampton Water [YMSM 117], Nocturne in Blue and Silver [YMSM 151] – had been on exhibition at the Exposition Internationale de Peinture, Galerie George Petit, Paris, 1883, which suggests they were readily available.

Notes:

1: Manchester Guardian, Manchester, 22 May 1884, in GUL Whistler PC 6, p. 52.

Last updated: 23rd November 2020 by Margaret