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

Home  > Catalogue > People > Stéphane Mallarmé (related works) > Catalogue entry

M.1354
r.: Bats; v.: Bat, cupids, and ships at sea

Artist: Beatrice and James McNeill Whistler
Date: 1892/1893
Collection: Glasgow University Library
Accession Number: MS Whistler W817
Medium: pen and black ink
Support: off-white laid paper, envelope
Size: 8 11/16 x 6 7/8" (220 x 174 mm)
Signature: none
Inscription: 'Bancroft'

r.: Bats; v.: Bat, cupids, and ships at sea

Composition

r.: Bats, Glasgow University Library
r.: Bats, Glasgow University Library

The bats were designed as illustrations for the second edition of a book: Montesquiou 1893 A [more] ; they were placed in a copy of the 1893 edition.

v.: Bat, cupids, and ships at sea, Glasgow University Library
v.: Bat, cupids, and ships at sea, Glasgow University Library

The cupids may have been for the proposed publication of Récréations Postales by Stéphane Mallarmé (1842-1898) (see Cupid letting a bird out of a cage [M.1341].

Technique

v.: Bat, cupids, and ships at sea, Glasgow University Library
v.: Bat, cupids, and ships at sea, Glasgow University Library

Some of the drawings, particularly the cupids, are probably the work of Beatrice Philip (Mrs E. W. Godwin, Mrs J. McN. Whistler) (1857-1896) rather than James McNeill Whistler. It is possible the preliminary ideas were a collaboration between Beatrice and James Whistler.

Conservation History

The envelope is torn and battered.

Last updated: 21st February 2021 by Margaret