The Paintings of James McNeill Whistler
M.0608
Oviform Vase
Date
Oviform Vase dates from 1876/1878. It is a preliminary study for an illustration in a catalogue of the collection of Henry Thompson (1820-1894). 1
Oviform Vase, Munson-Williams-Proctor Institute
The drawing is fully catalogued in MacDonald 1995 (cat. rais.) [more] (cat. no. 608).
Images
Oviform Vase, Munson-Williams-Proctor Institute
Oviform Vase, Glasgow Museums
Subject
Description
Oviform Vase, Munson-Williams-Proctor Institute
A sketch of an oviform vase against a grey background, roughly indicated. It is lit from the left and casts an additional shadow behind and to right.
The Thompson catalogue described the vase as one of three: 'Three Oviform Vases. A monster (supposed to be the dog "Foa") on rocks surrounded by waves, watching the movements of various birds; round the neck a castellated design; round the cover a running leaf pattern, above which is an eagle. Height, 8 inches.' 2
Technique
Composition
Oviform Vase, Munson-Williams-Proctor Institute
Oviform Vase, Glasgow Museum
This is an preliminary study for Oviform Vase m0609.
History
Provenance
- 1876/1878: given to Murray Marks (1840-1918), London art dealer;
- 1879: 29 preliminary drawings, 'sketches of blue and white vases, in the collection of Sir H. Thompson' were sold at auction, London, Christie, 7 February 1879 (lot 534) and bought by Pickford Robert Waller (1849-1930) for 1 guinea;
- 1930: bequeathed to his daughter Sybil Christina Waller (1882-1973);
- 1965: 29 drawings were sold at Christie's, London, 12 November 1965 (lot 32A), bought by Julius H. Weitzner (1896-1986), London dealer; 3
- 1969: sold by Knoedler's, New York dealers, to the Munson-Williams-Proctor Institute on 19 May 1969.
Exhibitions
It was not, as far as is known, exhibited in Whistler's lifetime.
Bibliography
Catalogues Raisonnés
- MacDonald, Margaret F., James McNeill Whistler. Drawings, Pastels and Watercolours. A Catalogue Raisonné, New Haven and London, 1995 (cat. no. 608) as 'Oviform Vase'.
Authored by Whistler
- Thompson, Sir Henry, A Catalogue of Blue and White Nankin Porcelain Forming the Collection of Sir Henry Thompson. Illustrated ... from Drawings by James Whistler ... and Sir Henry Thompson, London, 1878, final design (21) repr. pl. VI.
Catalogues 1855-1905
SALE:
- Christie's, London, 7 February 1879 (lot 534) among 29 preliminary drawings, 'sketches of blue and white vases, in the collection of Sir H. Thompson'.
Notes:
1: Thompson 1878 [more].
2: Thompson 1878 [more], p. 6 (cat. no. 21) repr. pl. 6.
3: Cylindrical Jar m0593, Oviform Vase m0595Bottle m0597, Bottle m0598, Oviform Ginger-Jar with Bell-Shaped Cover m0600, Oviform Vase and Cover m0602, Large Bowl and Cover m0604, Oviform Vase m0606, Oviform Vase m0607, Oviform Vase m0608, Oviform Vase m0609, Double Gourd Vase m0612, Beaker m0614, Beaker m0615, Vase with slightly bulging body and expanding neck m0619, Cylindrical Vase with thick neck m0620, Cylindrical Vase with thick neck m0621, Square Canister with long neck m0623, Square Canister with expanding neck m0625, Globular-shaped Bottle with long neck, and a deep dish m0627, Saucer-shaped Dish m0629, Square Canister with square neck, and saucer-shaped Dish m0630, Plate, Bowl with a cover surmounted by a cup-shaped knob, Globular-shaped Bottle with long neck and Eight-sided Bowl m0632, Bottle of compressed globular form m0635, Treble-Gourd Vase with long neck, and Bowl with scalloped edge m0639, Teapot in the form of a pomegranate m0641, Globular Bottle with long thin neck, Cylindrical-shaped Pot with flat cover surmounted by a knob, and Shallow Bowl m0643, Oviform Pot and cover m0646, Beaker with expanding neck m0648, Oviform Vase and cover m0650.