Detail from The Canal, Amsterdam, 1889, James McNeill Whistler, The Hunterian, University of Glasgow

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YMSM 460
Self-Portrait

Artist: James McNeill Whistler
Date: 1896/1902
Collection: The Hunterian, University of Glasgow
Accession Number: GLAHA 46373
Medium: oil
Support: canvas
Size: 51.5 x 31.3 cm (20 1/4 x 12 1/4")
Signature: none
Inscription: none
Frame: Grau-style, 1890s

Self-Portrait

Titles

Whistler’s own title is not known, so the picture was given a descriptive title:

  • ‘Sketch for a Self Portrait’ (1960, Arts Council). 1
  • ‘Self-portrait’ (1980, YMSM). 2

‘Self-portrait’ is the generally accepted title.

Description

Self-Portrait, The Hunterian, GLAHA 46373
Self-Portrait, The Hunterian, GLAHA 46373

A head and shoulders portrait of the artist, in vertical format. His head, seen in three-quarter view to right, is slightly tilted to right (his left). The effect of the monocle is to distort his eye and provides him with a somewhat manic stare.

He wears a black jacket and cravat over a bright white collar. His hair is slightly curly, with a white lock just indicated at upper right. He has a broad moustache. The background is very dark.

Sitter

H. S. Mendelssohn, J. McN. Whistler, albumen print, 1884/1885, GUL Whistler PH1/108
H. S. Mendelssohn, J. McN. Whistler, albumen print, 1884/1885, GUL Whistler PH1/108
H. S. Mendelssohn, J. McN. Whistler, 1884/1895, albumen print, GUL Whistler PH1/228
H. S. Mendelssohn, J. McN. Whistler, 1884/1895, albumen print, GUL Whistler PH1/228

James McNeill Whistler (1834-1903). This is one of a series of self- portraits, possibly studies for Gold and Brown [YMSM 462].

Notes:

1: Young, A. McLaren, James McNeill Whistler, Arts Council Gallery, London, and Knoedler Galleries, New York, 1960 (cat. no. 63).

2: YMSM 1980 [more] , cat. no. 460.

Last updated: 2nd November 2020 by Margaret