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

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M.1256
Four butterflies

Artist: James McNeill Whistler
Date: 1890
Collection: Los Angeles County Museum of Art
Accession Number: M.2015.73.48
Medium: pencil
Support: white wove paper
Size: 11 3/16 x 8 3/4" (284 x 223 mm)
Signature: butterflies
Inscription: v.: 'not in heirloom list' and 'BL 939' in unknown hands

Four butterflies

Provenance

  • 1890: probably sent by Whistler to William Heinemann (1863-1920) , London publisher.
  • Date unknown: with Obach's, London art dealers.
  • 1980: sold at auction, Christie's, London, 17 October 1980 (lot 2).
  • 1982: with Anthony D'Offay, London art dealer;
  • 1982: bought by Julius L. Zelman (1919-2016);
  • 2015: gift of Julius L. Zelman and Anita Zelman (n/a) to Los Angeles County Museum of Art, in honour of the museum's 50th anniversary.

Last updated: 19th March 2021 by Margaret