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

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YMSM 480
Portrait of Miss Philip in Black

Artist: James McNeill Whistler
Date: 1896/1898
Collection: Whereabouts Unknown
Accession Number: none
Medium: oil
Support: canvas
Size: ca 192.4 x 92.4 cm (75 ¾ x 36 3/8")
Signature: unknown
Inscription: unknown
Frame: unknown

Portrait of Miss Philip in Black

Titles

Only one title has been suggested:

  • 'Portrait of Miss Philip in Black' (1980, YMSM). 1

Description

It was described by W. G. Robertson as 'a girl in black, painted I think from his sister-in-law, Miss Philip, standing by a table covered with a white cloth on which were silver tea or breakfast things.' 2

Sitter

W. & D. Downey, Mrs John Birnie Philip and family, 1895/1909, platinum print, GUL Whistler PH1/165
W. & D. Downey, Mrs John Birnie Philip and family, 1895/1909, platinum print, GUL Whistler PH1/165

The sitter was described as Whistler's 'sister-in-law, Miss Philip'. This probably meant Rosalind Birnie Philip (1873-1958) rather than Ethel Whibley (1861-1920) . Both of them were posing for Whistler but Ethel, formerly Ethel Philip, was by this time Mrs Charles Whibley.

Notes:

1: YMSM 1980 [more] , (cat. no. 480).

2: W. G. Robertson 1931 A [more] , pp. 188, 193.

Last updated: 29th October 2019 by Margaret