Six paintings probably dates from 1886 or 1887. Whistler drew and listed pictures for a proposed exhibition (possibly at the Society of British Artists, of which he was, briefly, President), with some of the owners. 1
Six paintings, detail, Glasgow University Library
Six paintings, detail, Glasgow University Library
Six paintings, detail, Glasgow University Library
The sheet was catalogued in MacDonald 1995 (cat. rais.) [more] (cat. no. 1328), wrongly dated 'c. 1892'. This entry has been amended.
Six paintings, detail, Glasgow University Library
Six paintings, detail, Glasgow University Library
Six paintings, detail, Glasgow University Library
Six paintings, detail, Glasgow University Library
Six paintings, detail, Glasgow University Library
Six paintings, detail, Glasgow University Library
Arrangement in Grey: Portrait of the Painter, Detroit Institute of Arts
Arrangement in Grey: Portrait of Master Stephen Manuel, Freer Gallery of Art
Blue and Silver: Blue Wave, Biarritz, Hill-Stead Museum
The Coast of Brittany, Wadsworth Athenaeum
Variations in Flesh Colour and Green: The Balcony, Freer Gallery of Art
Grey and Silver: Chelsea Wharf, National Gallery of Art, DC
Purple and Rose: The Lange Leizen of the Six Marks, Philadelphia Museum of Art
The paintings depicted include Arrangement in Grey: Portrait of the Painter y122; possibly Arrangement in Grey: Portrait of Master Stephen Manuel y321; a seascape, possibly ; Variations in Flesh Colour and Green: The Balcony y056; a scene with ships, perhaps Grey and Silver: Chelsea Wharf y054 and Purple and Rose: The Lange Leizen of the Six Marks y047.
Six paintings, Glasgow University Library
The sketches include a very rough outline of Whistler's self-portrait, Arrangement in Grey: Portrait of the Painter y122.
Six paintings, detail, Glasgow University Library
Arrangement in Grey: Portrait of the Painter, Detroit Institute of Arts
Six paintings, detail, Glasgow University Library
Arrangement in Grey: Portrait of Master Stephen Manuel, Freer Gallery of Art
The two portraits depicted are Arrangement in Grey: Portrait of the Painter y122 and possibly Arrangement in Grey: Portrait of Master Stephen Manuel y321.
Six paintings, detail, Glasgow University Library
Blue and Silver: Blue Wave, Biarritz, Hill-Stead Museum
The Coast of Brittany, Wadsworth Athenaeum
The beach scene or seascape, might be Blue and Silver: Blue Wave, Biarritz y041 or The Coast of Brittany y037, though neither seem exactly similar.
Six paintings, detail, Glasgow University Library
Variations in Flesh Colour and Green: The Balcony, Freer Gallery of Art
Variations in Flesh Colour and Green: The Balcony y056 is very recognisable.
Six paintings, detail, Glasgow University Library
Grey and Silver: Chelsea Wharf, National Gallery of Art, DC
A scene with ships may be Grey and Silver: Chelsea Wharf y054, although the proportions seem incorrect.
Six paintings, detail, Glasgow University Library
Purple and Rose: The Lange Leizen of the Six Marks, Philadelphia Museum of Art
Finally, the drawings show Purple and Rose: The Lange Leizen of the Six Marks y047.
The paper has a torn edge at the left side, and was folded three times both ways.
It was not exhibited in the artist's lifetime.
1: [1886/1887], formerly dated [4/11 January 1892], GUW #06795.