Technique

The colours on the buildings are rich shades of grey, red and brown, thinly dabbed and scrubbed onto the panel. Likewise the beige and grey of the foreground is thinly scrubbed in. This contrasts with more fluid, creamy full brushstrokes on the sky. The painting is curiously uneven, possibly reflecting a work done in haste.

Conservation History

The varnish was removed in 1921, the painting was resurfaced in 1931, cleaned and varnished in 1937, resurfaced in 1938 and in 1952-53.

The butterfly signature, said to be at lower left on the fence, appears to have been partly erased and painted over. According to Freer Gallery conservation records, the butterfly in the lower left corner was almost obliterated when the painting was resurfaced and cradled in 1938.

Frame

Large Dowdeswell frame, made for Whistler's 1884 exhibition [14.1 cm]. 1