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

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M.1573
r.: and v.: Butterfly

Artist: James McNeill Whistler
Date: 1899
Collection: Library of Congress, Washington, DC
Accession Number: Pennell Collection
Medium: pencil, pen and dark brown ink
Support: white card
Size: 4 7/16 x 3 9/16" (113 x 91 mm)
Signature: butterfly
Inscription: 'size smallest in marginal notes in Gentle Art -', and, in unknown hands, 'Heinemann/ Today"/ 31480/ "- ¼ "-/'

r.: and v.: Butterfly

Composition

Butterfly, Library Of Congress
Butterfly, Library Of Congress
v.: Butterfly, Library Of Congress
v.: Butterfly, Library Of Congress

Although possibly intended for Whistler 1899 (F)[more] , neither butterfly was used although the skipping butterfly resembles the one which adorns the 'Resumé' (Butterfly [M.1574]). The obsequious butterfly on the verso is a bit like that of 'Noblesse Abuse!' (see Butterfly for 'Noblesse abuse!' [M.1551]).

Technique

The pen lines are very confident. It was drawn in ink, with corrections in white. Above the butterfly on the recto are drafts of a wriggly tail crossed out.

Last updated: 17th April 2019 by Margaret