Provenance

• 1896: sold by the artist to H. Wunderlich & Co., New York art dealers;
• 1896: sold by Wunderlich's to the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

In November 1895 the art dealer David Croal Thomson (1855-1930), having visited Whistler in Lyme Regis, thanked him for showing him 'The Master Smith', and afterwards Whistler reported to his wife Beatrice Philip (Mrs E. W. Godwin, Mrs J. McN. Whistler) (1857-1896), 'little Thomson then did sit and chorkle over the pounds that the pictures might bring! would bring, he said.' 1

On 6 March 1896 E. G. Kennedy, Wunderlich's representative, asked if Whistler would send over to America 'a fine "black-smith" ' seen by his brother. 2 Whistler replied: 'The Smith - Well I think you would like that - but my dear OK! it has not been seen here at all! I mean also Paris! and I fancy you would like me to show it! Also the price I know you would think alarming!' 3 According to the Pennells, Whistler brought it round to show them before it was sent to America, and he was loath to part with it. 4

However, by the end of June 1896, Kennedy apparently had possession of the portrait. 5 According to Wunderlich's, Whistler had agreed with Kennedy to sell them this painting and The Little Rose of Lyme Regis [YMSM 449] as well as Rose et or: La Tulipe [YMSM 418] or Harmony in Black: Portrait of Miss Ethel Philip [YMSM 419] for £1500. 6 It was sold by H. Wunderlich & Co. to the Museum of Fine Arts together with The Little Rose of Lyme Regis [YMSM 449] for $7,200, the accession date being 11 January 1896.

Exhibitions

• 1901: Pan-American Exposition, Buffalo, 1901 (cat. no. 99) as 'The Blacksmith'.
• 1904: Oil Paintings, Water Colors, Pastels and Drawings: Memorial Exhibition of the Works of Mr. J. McNeill Whistler, Copley Society, Boston, 1904 (cat. no. 36) as 'The Master Smith of Lyme Regis'.
• 1905: Memorial Exhibition of the Works of the late James McNeill Whistler, First President of The International Society of Sculptors, Painters and Gravers, New Gallery, Regent Street, London, 1905 (cat. no. 24) as 'The Master Smith of Lyme Regis'.
• 1905: Œuvres de James McNeill Whistler, Palais de l'Ecole des Beaux-Arts, Paris, 1905 (cat. no. 27) as 'The Master Smith of Lyme Regis'.