Head of Christine Spartali probably dated from late 1863, when, according to her sister, the model, Christine Spartali, Countess Edmond de Cahen (1846–1884) was too ill to pose for La Princesse du pays de la porcelaine [YMSM 050], and Whistler visited their house and drew Christine's head. 1

The drawing is catalogued in MacDonald 1995 (cat. rais.) [more] (cat. no. 317).