The Paintings of James McNeill Whistler

Date

Off the Dutch coast dates from 1883/1884.

Off the Dutch coast, The Hunterian

This work is catalogued fully in MacDonald 1995 (cat. rais.) [more] (cat. no. 940).

Images

Subject

Site

Off the Dutch coast, The Hunterian

The windmills on the far horizon do indeed suggest that this was painted off the coast of the Netherlands, and flecks of water suggest it was possibly painted from a boat. Or in the rain.

Technique

Technique

Off the Dutch coast, The Hunterian

The brushwork is complex and expressive, with layers of subtle shades of greeny-blues skilfully applied. Heijbroek and MacDonald comment: 'Criss-crossing, lilting brush-strokes of delicately graduated blues and greens suggest the waves of Off the Dutch Coast.' ¹

Conservation History

It appears to have been spotted with spray or rain. It is very slightly browned at the edges.

History

Provenance

• 1903: in Whistler's studio at his death and bequeathed to Rosalind Birnie Philip (1873-1958);
• 1958: bequeathed by Miss Birnie Philip to the University of Glasgow.

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. 940) as 'Off the Dutch coast'.

Books on Whistler

• Heijbroek, J. F., and Margaret F. MacDonald, Whistler and Holland, Zwolle and Amsterdam, 1997, pp. 36, 45, repr. pl. VII.

Websites

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