The Paintings of James McNeill Whistler

Date

r.: Butterfly probably dates from 1890/1892. The date and purpose of several drawings (Butterfly m1267, r.: Butterfly; v.: see No. 1572 m1268, Butterfly m1269 and Butterfly m1270) is uncertain. An alternative grouping suggests this butterfly should be dated later: therefore - and perhaps confusingly, the butterfly on the verso has been catalogued as v.: Butterfly; r.: see No. 1268 m1572.

r.: Butterfly, The Hunterian

v.: Butterfly, The Hunterian

They are catalogued in MacDonald 1995 (cat. rais.) [more] (cat. nos. 1268 and 1572).

Images

Subject

Description

r.: Butterfly, the Hunterian

The butterfly is derived from Whistler's monogram 'JW', with, in addition, a barbed tail, and trefoil backing. It is related to designs for Whistler 1892 [more].

Technique

Composition

r.: Butterfly, the Hunterian

v.: Butterfly, the Hunterian

The designs are related to Whistler 1892 [more], but were not used in that edition.

Technique

See MacDonald 1995 (cat. rais.) [more] (cat. no. 1268).

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. 1268) as 'r.: Butterfly; v.: Butterfly'.

Websites

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