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

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Sketch for 'La Princesse du pays de la porcelaine'

Titles

Only two titles have been suggested:

  • 'The Princess' (1890, Christie's). 1
  • 'Sketch for "La Princesse du pays de la porcelaine'' ' (1980, YMSM). 2

Sketch for 'La Princesse du pays de la porcelaine' is the generally accepted title.

Description


                    Sketch for 'La Princesse du pays de la porcelaine', Worcester Art Museum, MA
Sketch for 'La Princesse du pays de la porcelaine', Worcester Art Museum, MA

A small full-length study of a woman, in vertical format. She has long black hair, and faces three-quarter left. She wears a pale cream robe, possibly a kimono, over a pale green dress, and holds a decorated fan in her right hand. Behind her is a folding screen. There is a vase containing sprays of blossom to right, in front of the screen, and more blossoms at upper left.

Sitter

Unknown. She does not look like Marie Spartali (Mrs W. J. Stillman) (1844-1927), the model for the final version of the composition.

Notes:

1: Christie's, London, 13 November 1890 (lot 433).

2: YMSM 1980 [more] (cat. no. 49).

Last updated: 4th June 2021 by Margaret