The Paintings of James McNeill Whistler

Date

The date is unknown but for convenience it has been dated here '1883/1884' because, although it is not by Whistler, it is closely related to Whistler's watercolour Grey and pearl - Bank Holiday Banners m0954, which dates from 1883/1884 and was first exhibited in 1886.

Grey and pearl – Bank Holiday Banners, Fitzwilliam Museum

Images

Subject

Site

Grey and pearl – Bank Holiday Banners, Fitzwilliam Museum

Not identified. St Ives has been suggested as the site, but is incorrect. ¹ Penzance has also been suggested although ithere is not record of a visit by Whistler. A site in France, the Netherlands, or southern England, is also possible.

Comments

In the opinion of the authors of this catalogue raisonné, this watercolour is not by Whistler. The brushwork and handling of detail is not like his work. It is possible that it is by someone who was working with him in the 1880s, but the artist has not been identified.

Technique

Composition

Grey and pearl – Bank Holiday Banners, Fitzwilliam Museum

Grey and pearl – Bank Holiday Banners, Fitzwilliam Museum

It is similar in composition to Whistler's Grey and pearl - Bank Holiday Banners m0954, which is reproduced above, but is not an exact copy of that.

History

Provenance

• Before 1960: John Manning;
• 1960: bought by the Fitzwilliam Museum, with the Fairhaven Fund.

Exhibitions

None known in Whistler's lifetime.

Bibliography

Catalogues Raisonnés

• None.

Catalogues 1855-1905

• None.

Catalogues 1906-Present

• Young, A. McLaren, James McNeill Whistler, Arts Council Gallery, London, and Knoedler Galleries, New York, 1960 (cat. no. 96) as 'The Flagstaff'.
• Patricia de Montfort and Clare A. P. Willsdon, Whistler and Nature, Compton Verney Art Gallery and the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, 2018-2019 (no catalogue number).

Journals 1906-Present

• None.

Websites

• Fitzwilliam Museum website.