The Paintings of James McNeill Whistler

Date

Butterfly probably dates from 1890/1892. However, the date and purpose of this small group of drawings (Butterfly m1267, r.: Butterfly; v.: see No. 1572 m1268, Butterfly m1269 and Butterfly m1270) is uncertain.

Butterfly, The Hunterian

It is catalogued in MacDonald 1995 (cat. rais.) [more] (cat. no. 1267).

Images

Subject

Description

Butterfly, The Hunterian

The butterfly is remotely derived from Whistler's monogram 'JW', with, in addition, a barbed tail curving to upper left. It is related to designs for Whistler 1892 [more].

Technique

Composition

Butterfly, The Hunterian

The design is related to Whistler 1892 [more], but was not used in that edition.

Technique

See MacDonald 1995 (cat. rais.) [more] (cat. no. 1267).

History

Provenance

• 1903: in Whistler's studio at his death and bequeathed to his sister-in-law, 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. 1267) as 'Butterfly'.

Websites

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