Provenance

• 1897/1899: sold by the artist to Amy Lowell (1874-1925) ;
• 1925: bequeathed on 1 May 1925 to her nephew George Putnam (1889–1960) , Boston;
• 1947: sold by him to Alexis (Alix) W. Stanley (1872-1953) , New York;
• 1948: bought from Macbeth, New York dealers, by the New Britain Museum of American Art.

It was sold for 120 guineas, when barely dry, by Whistler to the author Amy Lowell (1874-1925) of Brookline, MA, who was then staying at 2 Clarges Street, Piccadilly. Whistler added that she could return it if it did not suit her: 'Will you permit me to add that if, in this great haste you feel that more time would have given you better chance for consideration, you will not hesitate to send back the little work - and on your next visit to London - or to Paris you shall come and arrange more at your leisure.' 1

Her nephew George Putnam, living at 89 Beacon Street, Boston, confirmed in 1945 that he had inherited the seascape from his aunt, the poet Amy Lowell. 2

Exhibitions

• Oil Paintings, Water Colors, Pastels and Drawings: Memorial Exhibition of the Works of Mr. J. McNeill Whistler, Copley Society, Boston, 1904 (cat. no. 85) as 'Blue and silver – Dieppe'.

It was not, as far as is known, exhibited in Whistler's lifetime.