Provenance

• 1880s: given to Charles Bullen Waller (1842-1903) ;
• In or by 1903: passed to his daughter, Edith Emma Marzetti (1865-1924) ;
• 1924: passed by family descent to a private collector;
• 1990: sold to Abbott and Holder, London art dealers;
• 1990: bought by a private collector.

On 4 November 1906 Mrs Marzetti wrote to her uncle, Pickford Robert Waller (1849-1930), that she treasured 'a little pen & ink sketch of his portrait of Miss Alexander, which he made for Mr. Ridley one night at the Hogarth Club & signed with the butterfly.' 1 But although he may have made it 'for' Matthew White Ridley (1837-1888), it was not, apparently, given to him.

Exhibitions

Not exhibited in Whistler's lifetime.