Lillie Pamington dates from between 1899 and 1902. 1

A note on the verso, written by Harold Wright (1885-1961), and recording information from Whistler's sister-in-law, Rosalind Birnie Philip (1873-1958) , states it was painted after 1896. Whistler took the studio at 8 Fitzroy Street, Fitzroy Square in February 1896 and it was redecorated and ready for use by May. He owned the studio until his death. Thus this portrait was painted in the Fitzroy Street studio between May 1896 and 1903.

Lillie Pamington, The Hunterian

However, Whistler is said to have first come across the model Lilian ('Lily') Pamington (b. 1887/1888) in 1898 or 1899. Other portraits of this model, possibly started in 1898 or 1899, were completed and exhibited over several years: Brown and Gold: Lillie 'In our Alley!' [YMSM 464] was exhibited in 1899, The Golden Lily [YMSM 542] in 1901 and Grenat et or: Le Petit Cardinal [YMSM 469] in 1902. A date between 1898 and 1902 is suggested by the similarity of Lillie Pamington to these and other portraits of this period, particularly Grenat et or: Le Petit Cardinal.