Titles

Whistler's title is unknown. The sole title is as follows:

• 'Interior' (1879, Society of American Artists). 1
• 'Interior' (1980, YMSM). 2

Description

An interior scene in vertical format. Two elderly people (a man on the left and a woman wearing a simple white cap or bonnet on the right), are seen from the back, looking towards a fireplace. Light comes from an unseen window at right. A number of pots and jugs are seen in front of the fire and on shelves at left.

The figures were described by a former owner, Fanny Hooper Curtis (1877-1963) , in 1946:

'The woman is … wearing a white peasant's cap very dark blouse and dull green skirt. The man has dull greenish trousers, a whiteish shirt-sleeve, short dull brown vest and hat … the immediate background behind the two figures … is a dull white.' 3

Site

Unknown.

Sitter

Unknown.

Comments

The 1980 catalogue raisonné stated:

'[T]his … painting … is not wholly consistent with his [Whistler's] known and more thoroughly authenticated work. However, so few early works by Whistler are extant that it is difficult to follow with certainty the development of his style at this period.' 4

Although, the authors of the current catalogue have been unable to locate and see this painting, they believe that there are good reasons to accept the attribution to Whistler.