The Paintings of James McNeill Whistler

M.0215
Spade or Signboard

Artist: James McNeill Whistler
Date: 1856/1858
Collection: Glasgow University Library
Accession Number: Special Collections Whistler 108
Medium: pencil
Support: cream wove paper, on verso of blue, purple and orange patterned end-papers, in book: 'Oeuvres de F. Rabelais', ed. by L. Jacob, Paris (Charpentier) 1852, leatherbound, burgundy tooled corners and spine
Size: 7 3/16 x 4 3/16" (177 x 107 mm)
Signature: title page signed 'J. A. M.Whistler'
Inscription: none

Date

Spade or Signboard dates from 1856/1858.

Spade or Signboard, Glasgow University Library

It is fully catalogued in MacDonald 1995 (cat. rais.) [more] (cat. no. 215).

Images

Spade or Signboard, Glasgow University Library

Subject

Description

A minimalistic sketch of a sign or spade.

Technique

Conservation History

The book is from Whistler's own library, and was probably acquired during Whistler's student days in Paris.

History

Provenance

1903: in Whistler's studio at his death and bequeathed to his sister-in-law and executrix, Rosalind Birnie Philip (1873-1958);
1955: given to the University of Glasgow.

Exhibitions

No exhibitions are known.

Bibliography

Catalogues Raisonnés

MacDonald, Margaret F., James McNeill Whistler. Drawings, Pastels and Watercolours. A Catalogue Raisonné, New Haven and London, 1995 (cat. no. 215) as 'Spade or signboard'.