The Paintings of James McNeill Whistler

Date

Doors and window was drawn on the last of seven foolscap sheets dated 27 September 1888 containing an agreement between Mary Bacon Martin, Mrs Sheridan Ford (m. 1887) and Sheridan Ford (1867-1922) and Whistler for the writing of The Gentle Art of Making Enemies - an agreement which Whistler was to repudiate. ¹ This letter is not related to the drawing.

Doors and window, Glasgow University Library

The Whistlers were on their honeymoon and this sketch could be by James Whistler or by his wife Beatrice Philip (Mrs E. W. Godwin, Mrs J. McN. Whistler) (1857-1896).

It is catalogued in MacDonald 1995 (cat. rais.) [more] (cat. no. 1186). This entry has been corrected.

Images

Subject

Site

Doors and window, Glasgow University Library

Probably drawn in France, possibly in Tours, when the Whistlers were on honeymoon. The drawing of elaborate doors and pretty windows is comparable to scenes in Whistler's prints of Bourges and Loches such as The Hangman's House, Tours [393].

Technique

Technique

Doors and window, Glasgow University Library

This drawing could be by Whistler or by Beatrice Philip (Mrs E. W. Godwin, Mrs J. McN. Whistler) (1857-1896). Another draft of a letter written by both James and Beatrice Whistler to Mary Bacon Ford at this time was adorned with pen drawings of a gothic window and flowers, which are more clearly the work of Beatrice Whistler. ²

Conservation History

The paper has a fine diamond grain. The drawing is upside down to the MS. side of the letter. There are ink blots along the edge of the sheet, to left of the drawing. The sheet was folded in quarters, horizontally, and is browned along the folds.

History

Provenance

• 1903: in Whistler's studio at his death in 1903 and bequeathed to his sister-in-law, Rosalind Birnie Philip (1873-1958);
• 1955: given by Miss Birnie Philip to the University of Glasgow.

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. 1186) as 'Doors and window.

Websites

• The Correspondence of James McNeill Whistler, 1855-1903, edited by Margaret F. MacDonald, Patricia de Montfort and Nigel Thorp; including The Correspondence of Anna McNeill Whistler, 1855-1880, edited by Georgia Toutziari. Online edition, University of Glasgow, 2003-2004, GUW #01148.