The Paintings of James McNeill Whistler

Date

v.: A nude leaning against a rail, The Hunterian

r.: Elizabeth Dawson in profile; v.: A nude leaning against a rail probably date from 1872.

r.: Elizabeth Dawson in profile, The Hunterian

r.: Elizabeth Dawson in profile may have been signed later, in 1873/1874.

The drawings are fully catalogued in MacDonald 1995 (cat. rais.) [more] (cat. no. 440).

Images

Subject

Sitter

r.: Elizabeth Dawson in profile, The Hunterian

Elizabeth Dawson (b. 1840).

Technique

Composition

v.: A nude leaning against a rail, The Hunterian

r.: Nude standing; v.: Designs for rosettes on Mrs Leyland's dress m0439, the drawing on the verso of r.: Elizabeth Dawson in profile; v.: A nude leaning against a rail m0440, Nude standing m0443 and r.: A nude with a parasol; v.: A nude leaning against a rail m0445 are among many studies or variations on this nude figure.

Technique

r.: Elizabeth Dawson in profile, The Hunterian

See MacDonald 1995 (cat. rais.) [more] (cat. no. 440).

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 by Miss Birnie Philip to the University of Glasgow.

Exhibitions

It was not, as far as is known, exhibited in Whistler's lifetime.

Due to the terms of Miss Birnie Philip's gift, this drawing can not 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. 440) as 'r.: Elizabeth Dawson in profile; v.: A nude leaning against a rail'.

Websites

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