The Angry Sea dates from between January and March 1884, when Whistler worked in St Ives, Cornwall. 1 On 4 January Whistler told Ernest George Brown (1851-1915) that he was ' tremendously busy with lots of pictures of all kinds.' 2 He described his work to a collector, Alfred Chapman (1839-1917) as 'oil paintings - little beauties.' 3

The Angry Sea, Freer Gallery of Art

This painting was exhibited on his return, in his one-man show of 'Notes' - 'Harmonies' - 'Nocturnes', Messrs Dowdeswell, London, 1884 (cat. no. 2).