Titles

One title has been suggested:

• 'Portrait of Miss Marion Peck' (1980, YMSM). 1

Description

The Pennells described it as 'a large full length ... painted standing, in evening dress, with her long white green lined cloak thrown back ... the colour was a harmony in silver and green.' 2 Actually, it may not have been a large full length, for the original price, £400, is less than the price of 600 guineas Whistler received for a small full-length like Arrangement in Grey and Green: Portrait of J. J. Cowan [YMSM 402]. Indeed Whistler defined the prices as follows:

'For a full length portrait - such as you saw going on in the studio - a thousand guineas -

For a smaller picture - such as the one Miss Peck remembers having seen at the Salon - the portrait of Mrs Sickert in blue - six hundred and fifty guineas -

This might be either a seated figure like Mrs Sickert - or standing full length - in which case the canvas would be of course of another shape & taller -

For a little portrait, like the small one you saw on the easel when you came in - a lady seated on a sofa, if you remember - is brown & gold - : three hundred guineas.' 3

On the other hand, Whistler did tell E. G. Kennedy on 27 April 1895, 'I am painting a portrait of a Chicago beauty - so that will be another full length for that "Lake front" city!' 4

Probably after the final sittings, on 7 April 1900, Whistler wrote to Mrs Farquhar:

'I always see you the same wonderful and beautiful Lady surrounded with the gold & mystery of the Venetian Gallery from which you have just stepped into my studio.' 5

Sitter

Marion Peck (Mrs W. R. Farquhar) (b. ca 1872) . Marion, the eldest daughter of Harold Stanton Peck of the U.S. Navy, married William Richman Farquhar (1860-1952), third son of Admiral Sir Arthur Farquhar of Aberdeenshire.