Provenance

• 1897: sold by Whistler to Wunderlich, New York dealers, but retained by the artist;
• 1902: bought by George Washington Vanderbilt (1862-1914) , Asheville, NC;
• 1914: on his death, passed by family descent to a private collection.

It was probably the painting referred to by Edward Guthrie Kennedy (1849-1932) of Wunderlich & Co., New York art dealers, on 3 July 1897, as a 'Little Girl' which they were buying from Whistler, at £500. 1 In October 1897 Whistler wrote from Paris to Kennedy, 'Are you still desirous to hold the little London waif - The London sparrow - you remember saying you would like to have it - and I told you I should want £500. for it?' 2 Kennedy queried the price:

'The London Sparrow. Yes, when ready let me know, but as you have a conscience, I'm sure you will charge me less than 500 /- /- for it. Do you know that Whistlers are dutiable now? He has lived too long abroad to be considered American any more, so the Treasury rules!!' 3

On 6 November 1897 Kennedy listed 'Sparrow' among paintings bought but not received. 4 In the following June he sent Whistler a cheque:

'I take the liberty of enclosing a cheque for £450 /- /- for the "Sparrow". I had intended to give only 400 /- /-, for say what you will, size plays / a part in the price of paintings. This is a compromise between your 500 and my 400 /- /-. If, under the Circumstances (20 per cent duty if it goes to America) you can accept this, I shall be delighted. If not, I shall heave a sigh & swallow my disappointment.' 5

Whistler, naturally, did not agree: "Of course I dont want to grieve you and send you back your cheque - but you know I can easily place the 'Sparrow'", he wrote, suggesting that they could share profits over £450.0.0. 6 Kennedy assented to this and also agreed to let the painting be exhibited before it was sent to him on his return to London. 7 However, it was not sent to New York at that time. Finally in 1902 it was varnished, and bought for his Paris apartment by George W. Vanderbilt. 8

Its current whereabouts is not known, although it is assumed it has remained in the Vanderbilt family or estate.

Exhibitions

• Œuvres de James McNeill Whistler, Palais de l'Ecole des Beaux-Arts, Paris, 1905 (cat. no. 41b) as 'The Little London Sparrow'.

On the verso is a label which reads 'No. 2/ MacNeill [sic] Whistler/ Portrait de fillette', which suggests it was sent to another exhibition in France at some time.