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Brown and Gold probably dates from between 1895 and 1900.
1894: Arthur Jerome Eddy (1859-1920) saw a self-portrait in Whistler's studio, but mentioned no details. 1
1894/1895: The artist Walter Richard Sickert (1860-1942) stated that he had seen Whistler at work on several self-portraits, which may have included this painting. 2
1895: Beatrice Philip (Mrs E. W. Godwin, Mrs J. McN. Whistler) (1857-1896) wrote to the art dealer Edward Guthrie Kennedy (1849-1932) that Whistler was painting a portrait, possibly this one: 'He thinks he will be through with his portrait by the end of next week.' 3
1895 or 1896: it was probably 'the portrait of Whistler, full length' that Martin Brimmer (1829-1896) of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, saw in Whistler's studio. 4 This is the first definite reference to the full-length. The portrait was interrupted, as Whistler wrote, by the serious illness of his wife: 'My own portrait - Alas! - that also must be left for the brighter days when I can again be in the fine old Studio that you know so well.' 5
1897: Whistler was painting a self portrait (probably this painting or possibly Gold and Brown [YMSM 462]) in March, at the same time as Portrait of Miss Marion Peck [YMSM 439]. He wrote to Marion Peck (Mrs W. R. Farquhar) (b. ca 1872) explaining: 'my own portrait has had its turn, and if today I were to continue yesterdays painting before it dries in, I could finish the picture, and could show you the two great works together!' 6
J. McN. Whistler at 110 rue du Bac, platinum print, 1896/1901, GUL Whistler PH1/123, 2491
1898: 'the full-length of himself, in long overcoat' was positively identified by Joseph Pennell (1860-1926) when he saw it in Whistler's studio in rue Notre-Dame-des-Champs, Paris, in May 1898. 7
1898: Arthur Jerome Eddy (1859-1920) said that he had been told by the art dealer David Croal Thomson (1855-1930) that 'you [Whistler] have several fine things on hand - one a portrait of yourself'; Eddy added that he would like the opportunity to buy it. 8
1899/1900: Whistler was alternating work on the Portrait of Miss Marion Peck and his self portrait, probably this painting but possibly Gold and Brown [YMSM 462]. 9
Brown and Gold, The Hunterian
1900: exhibited at the Exposition Universelle, Grand Palais, Paris, 1900 (cat. no. 108. in the American section) as 'Brown and Gold'. Albert Eugene Gallatin (1882-1952) claimed that Whistler repainted it in part after its exhibition. 10 On the contrary, Whistler's executrix, Rosalind Birnie Philip (1873-1958), claimed it had been rubbed down in 1900 and not repainted. 11
Notes:
1: Eddy to Whistler, 5 December [1894], GUW #01019.
2: Sickert, Walter, 'Where Paul and I differ', Art News, No. 14, 10 February 1910, p. 113.
3: [May/June 1895], GUW #09725.
4: E. G. Kennedy to Whistler, 27 March 1896, GUW #07276.
5: Whistler to E. G. Kennedy, [28 March 1896], GUW #09739. Beatrice Whistler died in 1896.
6: Whistler to M. Farquhar, [15 March 1897], GUW #10641.
7: Pennell 1908 [more] , vol. 2, p. 204.
8: Eddy to Whistler, 1 March 1898, GUW #01029.
9: Whistler to Marion Farquhar, [December 1899/February 1900], GUW #13193.
10: Gallatin 1913 A [more] , p. 21 (no. 8).
11: R. Birnie Philip to E. A. Gallatin, 2 December 1913, GUL Whistler BP III.
Last updated: 22nd October 2020 by Margaret
