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

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M.1143
Ships

Artist: James McNeill Whistler
Date: 1887
Collection: Glasgow University Library
Accession Number: MS Whistler
Medium: pen and purple and black ink
Support: white wove paper with watermark 'GURNEY/ IVORY LAID' and embossed heading '121 QUEEN'S GATE/ SW', f.s. 152 x 195 (6 x 7 11/16)
Size: 6 x 7 11/16" (152 x 195 mm)
Signature: letter signed 'Wm Henry Hurlbert'
Inscription: 'Home! D', probably by Whistler

Ships

Composition

Ships, Glasgow University Library
Ships, Glasgow University Library

The sketch is a little like the etching Her Majesty's Fleet: Evening [310]. This showed the Naval Review and was being printed by 19 August 1887.

Technique

The letter from Hurlbert was written on the first three sides of the folded sheet, and has nothing to do with the drawing upside down on the fourth side, with the incomplete and enigmatic inscription underneath it. The letter was in black ink but the sketch is in a more purplish shade of ink.

Ships, Glasgow University Library
Ships, Glasgow University Library

The sketch is not really consistent with Whistler's style. It could possibly have been by Beatrice Philip (Mrs E. W. Godwin, Mrs J. McN. Whistler) (1857-1896), who married Whistler in the following year.

Conservation History

The sheet was folded, for postage. Holes were punched at the top outside corners, for filing. The edges are soiled.

Last updated: 8th March 2021 by Margaret