Technique

According to the sitter, Stephen Manuel (1880-1954) , 'Whistler produced a fresh canvas each time ... the essential picture was painted very quickly and in about two sittings'. 1 According to the artist Walter Richard Sickert (1860-1942),Whistler 'was not quick enough for the child, who was wearied with the number of sittings'; and Sickert begged Whistler 'don't attempt to repaint the whole picture to the boy's present condition but merely touch details, the picture is finished.' 2

It is in a very restricted range of colours. There are signs of pentimenti around the hat and hair. The brush strokes are barely visible, except for the bolder broad white brushstrokes on the collar.

Conservation History

According to Freer Gallery records, it was cleaned in 1921, relined and resurfaced in 1925, cleaned, resurfaxed and waxed in 1949, revarnished in 1951, and cleaned, restretched, revarnished, inpainted and revarnished in 1965.

Frame

It is in a Flat Whistler frame dating from 1885. 3