Titles

Suggested titles include:

• 'Nocturne in black and gold: The Gardens' (1887, Royal Society of British Artists). 1
• 'Nocturne of Cremorne - Booths on the lawn' (1892, Whistler). 2
• 'Cremorne, No. 1' (YMSM, 1980). 3

'Cremorne, No. 1' is the preferred title. The numbering of Cremorne Nocturnes was assigned rather arbitrarily, but is being retained to avoid further confusion.

Description

A nocturnal scene in horizontal format. At left is a low building with people seated in balconies opening onto the open space of the park, where other people stroll or sit in groups. At right another building looms indistinctly. A few lights are strung across the middle distance. Smoke swirls in the gloom, and everything is indistinct, except for two woman to right of centre, one leaning down to pick up a white glove or handkerchief.

Site

Cremorne pleasure gardens in London, closed to the public in 1877. Whistler's paintings of Cremorne include Cremorne, No. 1 [YMSM 163], Cremorne Gardens, No. 2 [YMSM 164], Nocturne: Cremorne Gardens, No. 3 [YMSM 165], Nocturne in Black and Gold: The Gardens [YMSM 166], Nocturne: Black and Gold - The Fire Wheel [YMSM 169], and Nocturne in Black and Gold: The Falling Rocket [YMSM 170].