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

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M.0498
Study for 'Portrait of Miss May Alexander'

Artist: James McNeill Whistler
Date: 1874
Collection: British Museum, London
Accession Number: 1958-2-8-4
Medium: pen and dark brown ink
Support: cream laid paper with partial watermark 'N' and embossed monogram 'FRL' [F.R.Leyland]
Size: 4 3/8 x 7 1/16" (112 x 180 mm)
Signature: 'J A McN Whistler.' on letter
Inscription: [letter, p. 5: ] '... I think it would be charming to paint May with the hat on, the feather swooping grandly away! - I dont exactly know how - but they will manage it. - [drawing] And now, ... I would offer to inflict myself upon Aubrey House for a week or so, and get at the picture every morning! The habit will be black I suppose - and the hat black felt or grey with white feather and black arrangement - ...'

Study for 'Portrait of Miss May Alexander'

Sitter

Study for 'Portrait of Miss May Alexander', British Museum
Study for 'Portrait of Miss May Alexander', British Museum

Agnes Mary ('May') Alexander (1862-1950) , daughter of William Cleverly Alexander (1840-1916) and Rachel Agnes Lucas (Mrs W. C. Alexander) (1837-1900), was the subject of this drawing though she would not actually have sat for it.

Last updated: 23rd February 2021 by Margaret