The Paintings of James McNeill Whistler
M.0275
Standing figure of an old woman
Date
Standing figure of an old woman dates from between August and October 1858.
Standing figure of an old woman, Freer Gallery of Art
The drawing is fully catalogued in MacDonald 1995 (cat. rais.) [more] (cat. no. 275).
Images
Standing figure of an old woman, Freer Gallery of Art
Subject
Sitter
Unidentified. A similar cowled figure is seen in Profile sketch of an old woman, standing m0276.
Comments
Standing figure of an old woman, Freer Gallery of Art
An unusual drawing, possibly reflecting the influence of 'Le Bas-bleu' in Les Français peints par lui-même (Paris, 1840-1842) by Paul Gavarni (1804-1866).
Technique
Conservation History
The sheet was probably taken from a sketchbook. Over fifty drawings, many in sketchbooks, most of which dated from 1857-1858, were apparently given to Whistler's half-sister Deborah and/or her husband, Francis Seymour Haden, and were later removed from the sketchbooks.
History
Provenance
- 1858: probably given to Deborah Delano Haden (1825-1908) or her husband Francis Seymour Haden, Sr (1818-1910);
- 1898: sold through Wunderlich, New York dealers, to Charles Lang Freer (1856-1919);
- 1919: bequeathed by C. L. Freer to the Freer Gallery of Art.
See further details in r.: Les Côtes à Dieppe; v.: Cliffs and building m0222.
Exhibitions
It was not, as far as is known, exhibited in Whistler's lifetime.
Due to the conditions of Freer's will, it cannot be lent to another venue.
Bibliography
Catalogues Raisonnés
- MacDonald, Margaret F., James McNeill Whistler. Drawings, Pastels and Watercolours. A Catalogue Raisonné, New Haven and London, 1995 (cat. no. 275) as 'Standing figure of an old woman'.
Catalogues 1906-Present
- Curry, David Park, James McNeill Whistler at the Freer Gallery of Art, New York and London, 1984, p. 210, pl. 148.
Websites
- Freer Gallery of Art website at https://asia.si.edu/object/F1898.193, as 'Standing figure of an old woman'.