Composition

No preliminary sketches are known, but there are several drawings after the portrait.

One such pen drawing, Sketch of 'Arrangement in Black: Portrait of Señor Pablo de Sarasate' [M.0998], was drawn by Whistler for reproduction in the Pall Mall Gazette in 1885. 1 A slightly more elaborate drawing, also called Sketch of 'Arrangement in Black: Portrait of Señor Pablo de Sarasate' [M.0999], was reproduced by the Pennells. 2

A third drawing, Portrait of Pablo de Sarasate [M.1000], was said to have been owned by Oscar Wilde (1854-1900), but has not been located.

Whistler refused point blank to etch the oil for reproduction, telling David Croal Thomson (1855-1930), 'Sarasate - Of course I couldn't possibly do an etching - I would hate it! never could copy my own pictures!' 3

Technique

It is painted on a fairly coarse canvas, with what was, for Whistler, a fairly high degree of finish.

In November 1895 Whistler expressed the desire to touch up the portrait, but there is no record of him doing so. 4

Conservation History

Whistler asked Octave Maus (1856-1919) to have it varnished for exhibition at Les XX in 1886. 5

In 1893 it was sent to Stephen Richards (1844-1900) before going to the Society of Portrait Painters for exhibition. Whistler instructed Richards:

'Now - the Sarasate portrait, you cannot be too careful with -

It is painted on very rough canvas and you must beware of rubbing! -

It only wants gentle cleaning - and very splendid varnishing - for the picture has quite sunk in - and will depend entirely upon its perfect condition for its real strength and value -

I leave all this in your hands and have great faith in your care & discretion as well as your skill.' 6

By the following year Whistler felt it was ready for further treatment (it had been to one exhibition after another) and told D. C. Thomson, 'The Sarasate ought to be in fine condition - though I daresay it would be all the better for a coat of varnish, which it is in perfect state to receive.' 7 It was also varnished before being offered for sale in July 1895. 8

Restoration work was done on the painting in 1926 at Boston Museum of Fine Arts, and in New York in 1957 and 1960. Photographs suggest it may have darkened slightly but it is in a stable condition.

Frame

Flat Whistler, 1884, incomplete painted decoration and butterfly on frieze. 9

The original Flat Whistler frame, dating from 1884, is partially painted in a fish-scale pattern, and signed with a butterfly.