The Paintings of James McNeill Whistler
M.1368
Beach scene with two figures
Date
Beach scene with two figures dates from 1893/1897.
Beach scene with two figures, Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery
It is fully catalogued in MacDonald 1995 (cat. rais.) [more] (cat. no. 1368).
Images
Beach scene with two figures, Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery
Subject
Site
Unknown.
Technique
Technique
Broad or wriggly layers of washes were used to build up a heavily worked and complex sky and sea. The sea was richly worked in shades of cobalt and green, the sky painted more lightly, in grey with some turquoise. Dark purplish-grey rocks match the butterfly.
Conservation History
Off-white paper laid down on card with the stamp of 'E. MARY & FILS./ 26, RUE CHAPTAL, PARIS.', Whistler's favourite supplier at this time.
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: sold to Colnaghi, London dealers, on 26 October 1955 (#21137);
- 1955: bought by Birmingham City Art Gallery on 9 December 1955.
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. 1368) as 'Beach scene with two figures'.
Websites
- Birmingham Museums website.