The Paintings of James McNeill Whistler

Date

Rose and Silver does not, as was formerly suggested, date from 1869, although it suggests a return to certain compositional themes of the 1860s. ¹

Rose and Silver, The Hunterian

It was signed around 1880/1881, and probably reworked in the mid 1880s. Technically it resembles pastels such as Blue and Violet m1221, which is dated 1888/1889.

Images

Subject

Titles

Rose and Silver, The Hunterian

The title 'Tanagra' was given to this pastel for exhibition in 1915, but does not appear in Whistler's time.

Sitter

Rose and Silver, The Hunterian

Unidentified.

Technique

Technique

Rose and Silver, The Hunterian

Although it was suggested that Rose and Silver dates from the late 1860s, it was signed later, around 1880/1881, and probably reworked for exhibition in the mid- to late-1880s. ²

History

Provenance

• 1903: in Whistler's studio at his death and bequeathed to his sister-in-law and executrix, Rosalind Birnie Philip (1873-1958);
• 1935: given to the University of Glasgow.

Exhibitions

• 1888: possibly Ve Exposition des XX, Société des XX, Brussels, 1888 as 'Rose et argent'.
• 1888: possibly III. Internationale Kunst-Ausstellung, Königlicher Glaspalast, Munich, 1888 (cat. no. 48) as 'Rosa und Silber'.
• 1889: “Notes” – “Harmonies” – “Nocturnes”, H. Wunderlich & Co., New York, 1889 (cat. no. 37) as 'Rose and Silver' (number on verso).

It was not, as previously suggested, shown in 'Notes' - 'Harmonies' - 'Nocturnes', Second Series, Messrs Dowdeswell, London, 1886 (cat. no. 37) as 'Violet Note'.

The New York Times did not described this pastel specifically, but commented on 3 March 1889 that 'the Wunderlich exhibition included 'pastels of nude young ladies who rely a good deal on the color of the paper on which they live for their existence.' ³

It apparently remained unsold, and was returned after the exhibition to Whistler. ⁴

By the terms of Miss Birnie Philip's gift, the drawing can not be lent for exhibition.

Bibliography

Catalogues Raisonnés

• MacDonald, Margaret F., James McNeill Whistler. Drawings, Pastels and Watercolours. A Catalogue Raisonné, New Haven and London, 1995 (cat. no. 353) as 'Rose and Silver'.
• Young, Andrew McLaren, Margaret F. MacDonald, Robin Spencer, and Hamish Miles, The Paintings of James McNeill Whistler, New Haven and London, 1980 (oil, cat. no. 92).

Catalogues 1855-1905

• Possibly Ve Exposition des XX, Société des XX, Brussels, 1888 as 'Rose et argent'.
• Possibly III. Internationale Kunst-Ausstellung, Königlicher Glaspalast, Munich, 1888 (cat. no. 48) as 'Rosa und Silber'.
• “Notes” – “Harmonies” – “Nocturnes”, H. Wunderlich & Co., New York, 1889 (cat. no. 37) as 'Rose and Silver'.

Newspapers 1855-1905

• Anon., 'Etchings, Drawings, Pastels', New York Times, New York, 3 March 1889, p. 5.

Books, General

• Williams, Mary F., Catalogue of the Collection of American Painting at Randolph-Macon Woman’s College, Lynchburg, VA, 1965, p. 99, repr. fig. 74b.
• Williams, Mary Frances, Catalogue of the Collection of American Art at Randolph-Macon Woman's College: A Selection of Paintings, Drawings, and Prints, Charlottesville, 1977, p. 168, fig. 182a.

Catalogues 1906-Present

• Young, A. McLaren, James McNeill Whistler, Arts Council Gallery, London, and Knoedler Galleries, New York, 1960 (cat. no. 22) (not exhibited).
• MacDonald, Margaret F., Notes, Harmonies, and Nocturnes: Small Works by James McNeill Whistler, M. Knoedler and Co., New York, 1984, pp. 6-7, 15-16 (cat. no. 10).
• Hopkinson, Martin, Whistler in Europe, Hunterian Art Gallery, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, 1990 (cat. no. 16).
• Hopkinson, Martin, From Apprentice to Master. Whistler's Graphic Art, Hunterian Gallery, University of Glasgow, 1994 (cat. no. 16).

Journals 1906-Present

• Sickert, Walter R., 'A Monthly Chronicle: The Whistler Exhibition', Burlington Magazine, vol. 27, 1915, p. 170.

Websites

• The Hunterian website at http://collections.gla.ac.uk.