Titles

Variations on the title have been suggested:

• 'Ye loves of ye lobsters' (1879, A. S. Cole). 1
• 'frilled lobster' (1880, Whistler). 2
• 'The Loves of the Lobsters – an Arrangement in Rats' (1908, Pennell). 3
• 'The Loves of the Lobsters' (1980, YMSM). 4

The Pennells probably misunderstood Alan S. Cole's diary, where in fact 'Arrangement in Rats' referred to Mount Ararat [YMSM 210]. 'The Loves of the Lobsters' is the correct title.

Description

Augustus J. C. Hare (1834-1903) described it:

'The Loves of the Lobsters ... was supposed to represent Niagara, and looked as if the artist had upset the inkstand ... In the midst of the black chaos were two lobsters curvetting opposite each other, and looking as if they were done with red sealing-wax.' 5

Thomas Robert Way (1861-1913) stated that The Loves of the Lobsters [YMSM 209] and Mount Ararat [YMSM 210] were smaller than The Gold Scab [YMSM 208]. 6 The Gold Scab measures 186.7 x 139.7 cm (73 1/2 x 55").

Sitter

The Pennells described it as 'The Loves of the Lobsters', the first of three satirical pictures showing Frederick Richards Leyland (1832-1892) , in which Leyland was 'the most prominent lobster in shirt-frills.' 7

F. R. Leyland took his mistress Rosa Laura Caldecutt (1843?-1890) to the White House a week after Whistler's bankruptcy sale at Sotheby & Co. on 12 February 1880. They were shown around:

'Watson did not know who he was but knew him by his resemblance to the Gold Scab & by Mrs C's & his interest in the Lobsters at which they looked & then at one another smiling quizzically - though not unhappily quite - perhaps to the Lighthearted this is fame & reputation such as he has.' 8