Titles

Several possible titles have been suggested:

• 'Miss May Alexander' (1898, Society of Portrait Painters). 1
• 'Portrait of Agnes Mary, Miss Alexander' (1905, Œuvres de James McNeill Whistler, Paris). 2
• 'Portrait of Agnes Mary, Miss Alexander' (1905, ISSPG). 3
• 'Miss May Alexander' (1980, YMSM). 4
• 'Miss Agnes Mary Alexander' (Tate 2000). 5

Although 'May' was her nickname, not her actual name, the original title, 'Miss May Alexander', is preferred.

Description

The portrait of a young woman in three-quarter view to left, in vertical format. She wears a grey dress and black hat with a round, medium-broad, brim. Her hands are raised to her chest, as she pulls on gloves. Behind her is a grey wall and black dado. At left, behind her, is a round pot full of small yellow flowers.

A detailed description published in 1898 reads as follows:

'It is a full length. The graceful figure in grey is set against a grey wall, marvellously cool and tender and silvery in tone. The face is pale and delicate, the modelling as restrained as in the better-known Miss Alexander. The long, full skirts hang close about the feet, which they hide. One hand is held up slightly, while the other fastens the grey glove at the wrist. In the left-hand corner is a jar full of a pale golden flower, and little golden lights gleam here and there through the matting, around which runs a simple design in red outline - a harmony in grey and gold.' 6

Site

Whistler wrote to the sitter's mother, Rachel Agnes Lucas (Mrs W. C. Alexander) (1837-1900), and proposed moving in to the Alexander's house, Aubrey House in Kensington, in order to paint the picture in situ:

'[I]t occurs to me that if you like I will paint May in your own house - I think I should like this if you do not fear that I should be in the way - The new drawing room with its white and black wainscot is what I think of - it would be so delightful to be able to hang the picture up every now and then and see how it would look in its own proper place!' 7

W. C. Alexander (quoted by Cary) confirms that it was painted in the newly decorated dining room at Aubrey House, where the portrait was intended to hang. 8

Whistler designed an interior scheme for the Alexanders (seeDesigns for the arrangement of china in the dining room at Aubrey House [M.0487], r.: Colour schemes for the decoration of Aubrey House; v.: Head and shoulders of a nude [M.0492], etc. 9

Sitter

Agnes Mary ('May') Alexander (1862-1950).

Agnes Mary, the eldest of Rachel and W. C. Alexander's daughters, was born in November 1862. Her sister Cicely was also painted by Whistler (Harmony in Grey and Green: Miss Cicely Alexander [YMSM 129].