Provenance

• Date unknown: possibly owned by Henry Graves (1806-1892) or Algernon Graves (1845-1922)
• Before 1938: owned by Albert E. Ottinger (1878-1938) of New York;
• 1938: after his death, possibly sold with four other drawings at auction, Christie's, London, 16 December 1938 (lot 152) as 'Studies of Heads' and bought by 'Waters'.
• 1950: sold with three other drawings at auction, Christie's, London, 21 April 1950 (lot 140) 'two portraits of a lady … three in one frame with an autograph letter from the Artist addressed 'Dear Mrs.Graves' with a full signature and butterfly monogram: and a pen and wash drawing of a lady walking on the bend of a road with a bridge above' bought by 'Yonge'.

The early provenance is uncertain.

Exhibitions

It was not exhibited in Whistler's lifetime.