The Paintings of James McNeill Whistler

Date

Study of drapery probably dates from about 1874. It is known to the authors only as a photograph.

Study of drapery, photograph

It is fully catalogued in MacDonald 1995 (cat. rais.) [more] (cat. no. 567).

Images

Subject

Description

Study of drapery, whereabouts unknown

A study of an embroidered scarf or stole draped over a balcony.

Technique

Composition

Study of drapery, whereabouts unknown

'Private View of the Royal Academy', Punch, 13 May 1865, p. 196

This is probably a study for a missing painting, The Scarf y059, known only from the cartoon reproduced above.

History

Provenance

• 1893: possibly among drawings sold by Henry Studdy Theobald (1847-1934) at auction, Sotheby's London, 23 January 1893 (lots 113-130) which Thomas Way (1837-1915) described as ' mostly slight and struck me as being "early studies" (such as the Mummy Cloth & Notes for Dress) "unfinished sketches" or "schemes" for more complete works.' ¹
• 1910: acquired, possibly in 1910, by Henry Harper Benedict (1844-1935);
• 1935: after his death, passed to his widow Katherine Geddes Benedict (1879-1961) and her daughter Mrs James Douglass Sharpe;
• 1962: sold at auction, Benedict sale, London, Sotheby, 21 November 1962 (lot 1) as 'Study of drapery' bought jointly by Agnew, and Weitzner, London dealers;
• 1964: sold to a private collector on 16 June 1964.

For further details, see MacDonald 1995 (cat. rais.) [more] (cat. no. 567).

Bibliography

Catalogues Raisonnés

• MacDonald, Margaret F., James McNeill Whistler. Drawings, Pastels and Watercolours. A Catalogue Raisonné, New Haven and London, 1995 (cat. no. 567) as 'Study of drapery'.

Catalogues 1906-Present

SALE:

• Sotheby's, London, 21 November 1962 (lot 1) as 'Study of Drapery'.