The Paintings of James McNeill Whistler

Date

Nude tending a pot of flowers dates from 1870/1873.

Nude tending a pot of flowers, Colby College Museum of Art

It is dated from its relationship, in technique and composition, to other drawings, including Tillie m0367, which is so dated. However, Nude tending a pot of flowers could be later, and mark a return by the artist to earlier motifs.

Images

Subject

Sitter

Nude tending a pot of flowers, Colby College Museum of Art

Possibly Matilda Maria Gilchrist née Potter (1826-1886).

Technique

Composition

Nude tending a pot of flowers, Colby Museum of Art

The White Symphony: Three Girls, Freer Gallery of Art

The drawing may be related to the figure at left in The White Symphony: Three Girls y087 and The Three Girls y088. ¹

Technique

Nude tending a pot of flowers, Colby Museum of Art

The figure was first drawn in black, with several outlines reinforcing the curve of her back and pentimenti suggesting small alterations in the position of her limbs. White chalk was then added, giving emphasis and roundness to the figure. To right of her feet are traces of an earlier drawing.

History

Provenance

• 2013: given by Peter H. Lunder (b. 1933) and Paula Crane Lunder (b. 1935) to Colby College Museum of Art.

The early provenance of this drawing has not yet been established. It was not known at the time of publication of MacDonald 1995 (cat. rais.) [more].

Bibliography

Catalogues Raisonnés

• None.

Websites

• Colby College Museum of Art website as 'Standing Nude'.