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

 

M.1253
Two butterflies

Artist: James McNeill Whistler
Date: 1890
Collection: Freer Gallery of Art, Washington, DC
Accession Number: F1904.448
Medium: pencil
Support: cream wove paper laid down on card
Size: 7 1/2-7 5/8 x 4 13/16- 5 1/16" (190-193 x 123-129 mm)
Signature: butterfly
Inscription: trefoil and '7/16' in unknown hands

Two butterflies

Provenance

  • 1890: probably sent by Whistler to William Heinemann (1863-1920) , London publisher.
  • 1904: bought from Obach, London art dealers, by Charles Lang Freer (1856-1919) , Detroit;
  • 1919: bequeathed to the Freer Gallery of Art.

Exhibitions

By the terms of Freer's will, this work cannot be lent to another venue.

Last updated: 14th December 2019 by Margaret