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

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'The Owl' very ill in bed

Provenance

  • 1878: sent on 22 October to Charles Augustus Howell (1840?-1890) , who put it in an album;
  • After 1884: the album was acquired by Cornelius Cox (1835-1889) and returned to Whistler;
  • 1903: in Whistler's studio at his death and bequeathed to his sister-in-law and executrix, Rosalind Birnie Philip (1873-1958) ;
  • 1955: given by Miss Philip to the University of Glasgow.

Cornelius Cox was the father of Amy Ellen Cox, Mrs T. R. Way (1865-1949), wife of Thomas Robert Way (1861-1913). Way's father, Thomas Way (1837-1915), instructed Whistler in the art of lithography in the late 1870s and printed his lithographs.It was on the Ways' advice that the album was shown to Whistler.

Exhibitions

It was not exhibited in Whistler's lifetime.

Last updated: 10th March 2021 by Margaret