Provenance

• 1878: in Whistler's studio;
• 1879, 7 May: Whistler's assets, as declared by James Waddell, the Receiver appointed by The London Bankruptcy Court, included 'Two unfinished Pictures at Mr Whistler's house, 28 Wimpole St Cavendish Square';
• 1880: Waddell, the Receiver, had 'retained' the painting, but the Trustees, Frederick Richards Leyland (1832-1892) and Thomas Way (1837-1915), failed to agree on whether it should be sold or returned;
• 1880/1881: the Blue Girl could have been returned by the Receiver, James Waddell, to Whistler, or passed to a creditor;
• 1903: either the painting, returned to Whistler after his bankruptcy, remained in his studio until his death, and was bequeathed to his sister-in-law and executrix, Rosalind Birnie Philip (1873-1958) ;
• OR, in 1903, or some time thereafter: the painting was returned, by someone unknown, to Miss R. Birnie Philip;
• 1935: given by Miss R. Birnie Philip to the University of Glasgow.

Bankruptcy: The history of this painting at the time of Whistler's bankruptcy is not clear. At that time there were (or had been) at least three versions of his 'Blue Girl' composition, with various models including Elinor Leyland (1861-1952), Maud Franklin (1857-ca 1941), and Connie Gilchrist.

Whistler's assets, as declared by James Waddell, the Receiver appointed by The London Bankruptcy Court, included 'Two unfinished Pictures at Mr Whistler's house, 28 Wimpole St Cavendish Square', and he added that 'In their present unfinished state I am unable to estimate them to be of any value.' 1 On 25 August, Charles Augustus Howell (1840?-1890) asked Whistler to 'state "distinctly and in writing" what you will give in work if I secure for you – the Connie … and the blue girl', however, as far as is known, he did not secure it from Whistler's creditors or James Waddell. 2 Whistler expected a 'Blue Girl' to be included in his bankruptcy auction but he was told that although 'the Blue Girl (Connie)' was 'carried off by auctioneers', it was missing. 3 In March 1880, a destroyed or unfinished 'blue Girl' was legitimately stored in Whistler's brother's house in Wimpole Street, but Whistler asserted that 'this is not the blue Girl missing - Connie Gilchrist in blue ... that I ... hope certainly to trace' and he suggested that Matthew Robinson Elden (1839-1885) should tell the Receiver, James Waddell, 'all that John had said about the departure of the … Connie in blue … from the White House upon an Auctioneers order'. 4 It appeared that Waddell, the Receiver, had 'retained' the painting, rather than send it to auction, but the Trustees, Frederick Richards Leyland (1832-1892) and Thomas Way (1837-1915), failed to agree on whether it should be sold or returned to the artist. 5

Correspondence: After his bankruptcy, Whistler departed for Venice, attempting to maintain contact through reports from his brother, sister-in-law, friends, creditors, and lawyers. The subsequent confusion is reflected in his correspondence, reproduced below. Whistler wrote from Venice to his sister-in-law, Helen ('Nellie') Euphrosyne Whistler (1849-1917):

'I don't quite know what to say about the Waddell matter … First - you say which of the three pictures are the two to be shown - and then you only speak of "the 3 girls, and the Boy or Girl in blue" - does this mean 3 pictures, or are you uncertain as to the sex of my arrangement in Blue. If 3 - then by all means show the Three Girls - and the Blue Girl - and not the Boy - Now I dont quite understand how you have these at all, for I certainly believed that I had moved both the 3 girls and the Blue Girl back from Wimpole Street to the White House and left them there for the sale - They were not at the sale I know from what both Way and Elden have written[.] Were they then sent back? - If so, and with Waddell's permission, (and only with his could they have come away) what more can he have to say about it at all - … According to [Elden] you see that the 3 Girls and the Blue Girl (Connie) … etc - were carried off by auctioneers - and have been since missing - … Again if the original 3 girls be in your possession, then say that Waddell may have them if Lewis thinks so as also the blue Connie - If there be any other blue girl ( - Miss Franklin for instance) then that is not their affair - surely Waddell said that all the scratched and destroyed stretchers &c &c &c were to be left out.' 6

In March 1880 he wrote again, suggesting that his brother, William McNeill Whistler (1836-1900), should make an appointment to see the Receiver appointed by the Bankruptcy Court, James Waddell (b. 1838):

'Then he can take him to Wimpole Street and … show him the blue Girl and explain that this with the other rags and destroyed canvases were left in the studio and brought finally to you by his direction or permission - But he will want nothing of the kind though it is at his disposal, if you clearly make him understand that this is not the blue Girl missing - Connie Gilchrist in blue - in short that these are not the pictures he is after - that I am after also - and hope certainly to trace - and urge him to do his best - Let Elden go with Willie - he can tell him … all that John had said about the departure of the … Connie in blue … &c - from the White House upon an Auctioneers order - The man in pos[s]ession (Watson) could also tell the story.' 7

And on 12 April 1880 the artist Matthew Robinson Elden (1839-1885) wrote to Whistler,

'about the lost pictures - Waddell it turns out had reserved them as being valueless & I suppose with the intention of returning them to you - however the enquiries made particularly by Hermon [sic] - brought forth this acknowledgement and at the meeting on Thursday last Way & Leyland - the only Trustees present [-] the canvasses in dispute were unrolled … nothing was settled and the meeting adjourned - Way sent for me and his position is that these things must be put up for sale.' 8

The 'Hermon' referred to was Louis Herrman (b. 1810 or 1811), who had an art gallery at 60 Great Russell Street, Bloomsbury, and had lent Whistler money.

However, the painting of Connie did not go to auction and it is not clear when or if it was returned to Whistler, or, after his death, to his executor Miss R. Birnie Philip.

Exhibitions

The Blue Girl: Portrait of Connie Gilchrist was not exhibited in Whistler's lifetime.

By the terms of Miss R. Birnie Philip's gift to the University of Glasgow, it is not lendable.