Technique

It is painted thickly and densely, in rich colours, with bold modelling. It was painted with brushes, with no trace of palette knife. The hand was brushed in cursorily, and appears unfinished.

Gallatin noted: 'the face is rather carefully modelled, the rest of the picture freely painted.' 1

Conservation History

The wood panel has been laid down on a cradled panel.

Frame

Described by Andrew McLaren Young (1913-1975) as 'Whistler style, flat frame with dark brown wood, gilt edged slip' with the number '19890' stamped on the verso and a label, 'No. 93167 ... dientige ... Reinhard.' 2

Labels and notes on the verso of the frame were recorded by Caroline Seabolt, Christie's, New York, in October 2021. An old label, now torn, with bears the partial inscription 'No. 93 …', and this was presumably the Reinhard label recorded by Professor Young. In addition she notes the stamp, '1989'0; two written notes, 'HR/2763' and '7343'; a label, 'L.67.51.7'; illegible pencil markings possibly including 'AI' and 'HHL'; and finally a fairly recent label, 'James Abbott McNeill Whistler/ C: Whistler Smoking/ S:/ Owner: E. De Saint Phalle'.