The Paintings of James McNeill Whistler

Date

Four butterflies were drawn for publication in Whistler 1890 [more].

Four butterflies, Freer Gallery of Art

It is catalogued in MacDonald 1995 (cat. rais.) [more] (cat. no. 1238).

Images

Subject

Description

Four butterflies, Freer Gallery of Art

Four designs for butterfly signatures based on Whistler's monogram 'JW', with the addition of barbed tails. They were designed for in Whistler 1890 [more].

Technique

Composition

Four butterflies, Freer Gallery of Art

These are designs for Whistler 1890 [more].

The upper left butterfly was reproduced on p. 261 after alterations were made to the first draft. It was used at the end of 'Et tu, Brute!', in which Whistler remonstrated with Algernon Charles Swinburne (1837-1909) over the latter's review of the 'Ten o'clock lecture'. Alterations were made to the butterfly, to make it more symmetrical.

The one on the right, with its trefoil field and narrow wings, was proved but not used. The lower left butterfly was published on the title page, including the alterations made on the drawing (proofs are in GUL Whistler MS W805). The one at lower right was crossed out and not used.

History

Provenance

• 1890: probably sent by Whistler to William Heinemann (1863-1920), London publisher.
• 1904: bought from Obach, London art dealers, by Charles Lang Freer (1856-1919), Detroit;
• 1919: bequeathed to the Freer Gallery of Art.

Further details are given in MacDonald 1995 (cat. rais.) [more] (cat. no. 1238).

Exhibitions

By the terms of Freer's will, this work cannot be lent to another venue.

Bibliography

Catalogues Raisonnés

• MacDonald, Margaret F., James McNeill Whistler. Drawings, Pastels and Watercolours. A Catalogue Raisonné, New Haven and London, 1995 (cat. no. 1238) as 'Four butterflies'.

Authored by Whistler

• Whistler, James McNeill, The Gentle Art of Making Enemies, London, 1890, repr. title page, p. 261.

Catalogues 1906-Present

• Curry, David Park, James McNeill Whistler at the Freer Gallery of Art, New York and London, 1984, p. 284, pl. 291.

Websites

• Freer Gallery of Art website at https://asia.si.edu/object/F1904.446, as 'Four butterflies'.