Portrait of Miss Philip dates from 1903. 1 On 28 May 1903 one of the Pennells – it is not clear whether this was Elizabeth Robins Pennell (1855-1936) or Joseph Pennell (1860-1926) – described seeing a painting in Whistler’s studio, 'a portrait of Miss Philip which he started some months ago, and is now making into the most beautiful portrait of her I have seen – a blue gown with dull yellow beads about her neck.' 2