Portrait of M. R. Elden (1) dates from 1882. 1

On 11 June 1882 Alan Summerly Cole (1846-1934) recorded in his diary a visit to Whistler, 'He has begun a full length portrait of Eldon [sic].' 2

According to the Pennells, this full-length portrait, 'a fine thing', which they knew from a photograph, and a small version of it, dating from 1882, had 'vanished.' 3

In an undated letter, Whistler urged Matthew Robinson Elden (1839-1885) to come for a sitting, possibly for this portrait:

'I hope you will turn up early tomorrow morning at the Studio - in time for breakfast

Do be there by 9. o'clock - so that we might begin the day betimes - Every thing gets so late! we must turn over a new leaf!' 4

However, there is no further reference to the portrait.