The Paintings of James McNeill Whistler

Date

Whistler raiding the Chelsea Arts Club was drawn in a letter from Whistler in London to Rosalind Birnie Philip (1873-1958) at 110 rue du Bac, Paris, postmarked 24 November 1896. ¹ The inscription concerns William Eden (1849-1915), a member of the Chelsea Arts Club, who had not, Whistler thought, paid him enough for Brown and Gold: Portrait of Lady Eden y408.

Whistler raiding the Chelsea Arts Club, Glasgow University Library

It is catalogued in MacDonald 1995 (cat. rais.) [more] (cat. no. 1482).

Images

Subject

Sitter

Whistler raiding the Chelsea Arts Club, Glasgow University Library

James McNeill Whistler (1834-1903). He sometimes signed himself 'the General' when writing to Miss Birnie Philip, whom he addressed as 'Major'.

Technique

Technique

Whistler raiding the Chelsea Arts Club, Glasgow University Library

The drawing is in the same ink as the letter. There is the suggestion of a butterfly with wings folded around him. By blotting the ink, the shadows engulfing the demonic figure became grey.

Conservation History

The caricature is on the third side of a four-sided letter.

History

Provenance

• 1896: sent to Whistler's sister-in-law, ward and executrix, Rosalind Birnie Philip (1873-1958);
• 1955: given by Miss Birnie Philip to the University of Glasgow.

Exhibitions

It was not 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. 1482) as 'Whistler raiding the Chelsea Arts Club'.

Websites

• The Correspondence of James McNeill Whistler, 1855-1903, edited by Margaret F. MacDonald, Patricia de Montfort and Nigel Thorp; including The Correspondence of Anna McNeill Whistler, 1855-1880, edited by Georgia Toutziari. Online edition, University of Glasgow, 2003-2004, GUW #04683.