Titles

Whistler's original title is not known. The only known title is:

• 'Miss Rosalind Birnie Philip Standing' (1980, YMSM). 1

Description

A small full-length portrait in vertical format. It shows a young woman standing, wearing a black dress with a high neck and full puffed sleeves (of a modest leg o'mutton variety). She stands in slight three-quarter view to left, but looking at the viewer. Her hair is dark brown, pulled back close to her head, with a short fringe. Her right arm is not seen, her left hand holds a ring – possibly a bracelet – from which hangs a white handkerchief or scarf. The floor is dark, merging into the hem of her skirt. The background is indicated roughly: at left is a fireplace, and at right, a picture hangs on the pale green wall.

Site

Painted in the drawing room in Whistler's house at 110 rue du Bac in Paris about 1897, according to a label on the verso written by Harold Wright (1885-1961), almost certainly from information provided by the sitter.

Sitter

Rosalind Birnie Philip (1873-1958) . Whistler painted several portraits of Miss Birnie Philip, who became his ward and, eventually, his executrix. This painting was among the many works from his studio that she gave or bequeathed to the University of Glasgow.