Description

Sitter

The Pickwick Papers (The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club), which was first published in monthly parts from April 1836-November 1837 and in book form in 1837. Whistler read the edition in the USMA library, West Point. He painted a 'half-finished sketch' in watercolour showing 'the fat boy in Pickwick and the old lady when he told her he had seen Mr.Tupman kissing her daughter.' A member of the Pickwick Club, Tracy Tupman, loved (and kissed) Rachael Wardle, a 'lady of doubtful age'; Rachael later tried to elope with Jingle, but this attempt was thwarted. 1