Harmony in Brown: The Felt Hat, The Hunterian

Harmony in Brown: The Felt Hat dates from between 1890 and 1891. 1

Gants de suede, lithograph, 1890 (C35) The Hunterian, GLAHA 49038

1890: Whistler drew a lithograph of Ethel Whibley (1861-1920) called Gants de suède c035, which was published in the Studio in 1890. It is a three-quarter length portrait showing Ethel in a very similar costume and pose to this painting. 2

1891: Théodore Duret (1838-1927) saw a portrait in an unfinished state in Whistler's London studio, which may have been Harmony in Brown: The Felt Hat, Red and Black: The Fan [YMSM 388] or Mother of Pearl and Silver: The Andalusian [YMSM 378]. 3

1890/1892: It may also have been one of the portraits the German art historian Richard Muther (1860-1909) saw on a visit to Whistler's studio before 1893, but his account is not dated. 4

1901: On 3 November Whistler wrote that he had discovered a portrait of Ethel (whom he called 'Bunnie') which he thought worth completing (possibly this or Harmony in Black: Portrait of Miss Ethel Philip [YMSM 419]): 'Bunnie you know how much I think of all you are doing! ... I will tell you when I see you - & mean while I have found a very pretty picture of you! you must come & see if something may not be done!' 5