The Paintings of James McNeill Whistler
M.0706
r. and v.: Design for the cover of 'Whistler v. Ruskin: Art and Art Critics'
Date
r. and v.: Design for the cover of 'Whistler v. Ruskin: Art and Art Critics' is dated 24 December 1878. 1
Design for the cover of 'Whistler v. Ruskin: Art and Art Critics', Private Collection
It is fully catalogued in MacDonald 1995 (cat. rais.) [more] (cat. no. 706).
Images
Design for the cover of 'Whistler v. Ruskin: Art and Art Critics', Private
Collection
Subject
Site
Design for the cover of 'Whistler v. Ruskin: Art and Art Critics', Private Collection
The Battersea shore of the River Thames, seen from Chelsea on the north side of the river.
Technique
Composition
Design for the cover of 'Whistler v. Ruskin: Art and Art Critics', Private Collection
This is one of several designs for the cover of Whistler v. Ruskin: Art and Art Critics. 2 According to Thomas Robert Way (1861-1913), of the lithographic firm that published the pamphlet,
'[Whistler] had an idea for a fancy cover, and made many sketches for the purpose. One was a quite elaborate nocturne, which he drew in ink on brown paper ... He evidently intended to make a lithograph himself, but questions of cost probably interfered, and finally type was used on brown paper.' 3
History
Provenance
- 1878: probably acquired from the artist by Thomas Way (1837-1915), who printed Whistler v. Ruskin: Art and Art Critics;
- By 1912: owned by his son, Thomas Robert Way (1861-1913);
- 1913: possibly given by Mrs Way to Pickford Robert Waller (1849-1930), London, in July 1913 (note on photograph, Knoedler archives);
- 1930: bequeathed to his daughter, Sybil Christina Waller (1882-1973);
- 1965: sold at auction,Christie's, London, 12 November 1965 (lot 32) and bought by Knoedler, New York dealers (#WCA 3549 #7);
- 1965: bought by Shirley Latter Schlesinger Kaufmann (Mrs Robert B. Kaufmann) (1916-2003) and given to her son.
The events of 1913 are not entirely clear: see also Design for the cover of 'Whistler v. Ruskin: Art and Art Critics' m0707.
Exhibitions
It was not 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. 706) as 'r. and v.: Design for the cover of 'Whistler v. Ruskin: Art and Art Critics''.
Books on Whistler
- Way, Thomas Robert, Memories of James McNeill Whistler, the Artist, London and New York, 1912, p. 33, repr. f.p. 32 as 'Sketch of proposed cover for "Art and Art Critics" '.
Catalogues 1906-Present
- Christie's, London, 12 November 1965 (lot 32).
Notes:
1: Whistler 1878 A [more].
2: Whistler 1878 A [more].
3: Way 1912 [more], p. 33.