Titles

Several possible titles have been suggested:

• Probably ' "Nocturne in Black & Gold No. 2", Cremorne' (1888, Whistler). 1
• Probably 'Nachtstück in Schwarz und Gold: Cremorne' (1888, III. Internationale Kunst-Ausstellung, Munich). 2
• 'Nocturne, Cremorne Gardens, No. 3' (1905, ISSPG). 3
• 'Nocturne: Cremorne Gardens, No. 3' (YMSM, 1980). 4

The numbering of these Cremorne Nocturnes is somewhat arbitrary. To avoid confusion, the numbers 1 and 2 were assigned as follows: Cremorne, No. 1 [YMSM 163], and Cremorne Gardens, No. 2 [YMSM 164]. The painting here under discussion is therefore 'Nocturne: Cremorne Gardens, No. 3' (even though Whistler probably called it No. 2).

Description

A dark night scene, in horizontal format. Stretching from right to left, reaching three-quarters of the way across the canvas, is a three-storey building with faintly lit windows, and a few figures standing on the ground in front of it.

Site

Cremorne pleasure gardens, in London, closed to the public in 1877. Curry suggested that this was painted from 'the old hotel on the grounds, or else Ashburnham Hall', and he also noted the presence of a 'couple swiftly departing' into the darkness, subtly implying a sexual clandestine relationship. 5

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].

Whistler's neighbour and pupil, the artist Walter Greaves (1846-1930) painted several nocturnes of Cremorne, three of which were exhibited in London at the Goupil Gallery in 1911 (cat. nos. 29, 34, 67). 6