The Paintings of James McNeill Whistler

Date

The Valparaiso Notebook dates from 1865/1875. Whistler's trip to Valparaiso lasted from February to September 1866. However, some entries in the notebook refer back to events in 1865 and others date from after his return, while one transaction (p. 5) was precisely dated 10 January 1867.

Cover, Valparaiso Notebook, Glasgow University Library

'Map of America', Valparaiso Notebook, p. 12, Glasgow University Library

Fully catalogued in MacDonald 1995 (cat. rais.) [more] (cat. no. 340). The text is transcribed in GUW #04335.

Images

Subject

Description

'Map of America', Valparaiso Notebook, p. 12, Glasgow University Library

Inscribed:

'1st letter probably leave St Thomas 28th / Feb - [to] reach London 15. of March - / 2nd letter might leave Colon . . . . ./ and arrive in England 28 or 30 -/ 8 / March 17. April 27.* / April 2. May 15th.* bombardment / April 17. May 27 -* / May 3. June 15* next.'

'Studies of a case or box', & 'Plans of a Drawing Room & North Room, & studies of an earring or pipe', Valparaiso Notebook, pp. 22-23, GUL

p. 22, diary, not transcribed, not relevant to drawings; p. 23, relevant section:

'Drawing room. 19½ x 26½ [drawing, inscribed:] 16.5 [wide] 22.1 [long] [drawing, inscribed:] North room / 19.2 / 23 / 21 / 17.6.'

'Woman wearing a dress with puffed sleeves', & 'Woman wearing a dress with a train', Valparaiso Notebook, pp. 26-27, GUL

p. 27:

'W. B. Macaulay/ [drawing] / Instrument 3. 0. 0 / [hamock?] 2. 1 0 / 97. 43 - [Paulton?] / "Limehouse" / Batt. Dawn./ Warehouses/ Black Lion Wharf .'

'Woman seen from the back, in riding dress, & a ruff', & 'Two men at a table, a head, and a plan', Valparaiso Notebook, pp. 28-29, GUL

p. 28:

' Supper 50 : 25 dinner at Peters - Sat - 15 - 7 / Mother [115] 34. Schloss St - Coblentz.'

p. 29:

'Navarelli / amiable cove / Peruvian', 'final arrangement / 2 feet. ½in. by 1 foot. 7. in - / Etchings', '21½ x 16' / [drawing of four boxes] / '6. feet 2 - by 2 ft' / [drawing, Two men at a table; a trestle table, a head, and a plan] / '1½.'

'Flower, ball, & a landscape', & 'Plan of rooms', Valparaiso Notebook, p. 30-inside cover, GUL

Any inscriptions that are not relevant to the drawings are not transcribed.

Cover, Valparaiso Notebook, Glasgow University Library

Edge of paper, Valparaiso Notebook, Glasgow University Library

Site

'Map of America', Valparaiso Notebook, p. 12, Glasgow University Library

This map may have been drawn to show Whistler's proposed voyage and travels in America.

Technique

Conservation History

Cover, Valparaiso Notebook, Glasgow University Library

Edge of paper, Valparaiso Notebook, Glasgow University Library

The binding and pages are slightly battered and soiled, and the drawings and notes rubbed and faint.

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.

Bibliography

Catalogues Raisonnés

• MacDonald, Margaret F., James McNeill Whistler. Drawings, Pastels and Watercolours. A Catalogue Raisonné, New Haven and London, 1995 (cat. no. 340) as 'The Valparaiso Notebook'.

Websites

• The Correspondence of James McNeill Whistler, 1855-1903, edited by Margaret F. MacDonald, Patricia de Montfort and Nigel Thorp; including The Correspondence of Anna McNeill Whistler, 1855-1880, edited by Georgia Toutziari. Online edition, University of Glasgow. GUW #04335.