Titles

Only one title has been suggested, with varying capitalisation:

• 'Le bébé français' (1905, Paris). 1
• 'Le Bébé Français' (1936, University of Glasgow). 2
• 'Le Bébé français' (1980, YMSM). 3

Description

A portrait in circular format, showing the head and shoulders of a sleeping baby with curly brown hair, her head in profile to left. She wears a white blouse with a broad frilled collar, like a ruff.

Sitter

The sleeping child in this painting has not been unidentified, being described only as a 'local baby'. The child was painted in Etretat, Normandy, France.

Comments

Whistler painted several sketches of babies or toddlers, including one of his first oils, The Artist's Niece [YMSM 001], and later studies, Note in Flesh Colour and Grey: Portrait of Miss Dorothy Menpes [YMSM 260] and Portrait of Miss Amy Brandon Thomas [YMSM 392].