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

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M.1480
Skull and crossbones (a)

Artist: James McNeill Whistler
Date: 1896
Collection: Library of Congress, Washington, DC
Accession Number: E. R. and J. Pennell Collection
Medium: pen and black ink
Support: cream laid paper, partial watermark, 'JOYN[SON]'
Size: 3 3/8 x 4 9/16" (85 x 116 mm)
Signature: none
Inscription: none

Skull and crossbones (a)

Composition

Proofs of Skull and crossbones, Library of Congress
Proofs of Skull and crossbones, Library of Congress

Whistler designed the skull and crossbones motif for the title page of A Book of Scoundrels by Charles Whibley (1859-1930), published by William Heinemann (1863-1920) in London in 1897. It was also used in pamphlets and press advertising Whibley's book.

Technique

Skull and crossbones, Library of Congress
Skull and crossbones, Library of Congress
Skull and crossbones, Library of Congress
Skull and crossbones, Library of Congress

Skull and crossbones [M.1480] is the first of two designs, and is unsigned; the second, Skull and crossbones [M.1481] is similar in design and paper, signed with the butterfly, and selected for publication.

Conservation History

The sheet is a little irregular in shape, with rough edges at left and bottom.

Last updated: 5th March 2021 by Margaret