The Paintings of James McNeill Whistler
M.1535
Designs for a monogram 'SM'
Date
Designs for a monogram 'SM' probably dates from the 1890s, and may have been drawn by James McN. Whistler or Beatrice Philip (Mrs E. W. Godwin, Mrs J. McN. Whistler) (1857-1896).
Designs for a monogram 'SM', The Hunterian
The designs were drawn on a sheet of paper folded around a copperplate, which was about 180 x 130 mm. Several etchings dating from between 1891 and 1894 are close in size, such as Cameo, No. 1 (Mother and Child) [459] and Bébés, Jardin du Luxembourg [463]. However, the drawing could date from later.
It is catalogued in MacDonald 1995 (cat. rais.) [more] (cat. no. 1535) under the title 'Designs for a monogram 'SJM' and dated 'c. 1898'. The record has been amended.
Images
Designs for a monogram 'SM', The Hunterian
Subject
Description
Designs for a monogram 'SM', The Hunterian
Eight designs for a monogram including the letters 'SM'. There appears to be another letter, 'I' or 'J' but it is not consistently applied.
Technique
Composition
Designs for a monogram 'SM', The Hunterian
Whistler, or possibly Beatrice Philip (Mrs E. W. Godwin, Mrs J. McN. Whistler) (1857-1896), designed the monogram for the family of Miltiades Basil Manuel (1841-1907), and possibly specifically for his wife Sophia (Eustratius) Ionides (Mrs M. B. Manuel) (1853-1905). She was the sister of Whistler's sister-in-law, Helen ('Nellie') Euphrosyne Whistler (1849-1917).
Their son, Stephen Manuel (1880-1954), had posed for Arrangement in Grey: Portrait of Master Stephen Manuel y321. The Manuels lived at No. 2, Marlborough Gate and their headed notepaper bore what appears to be the completed monogram developed from Whistler's designs, the letters 'SM' on a broadly elliptical field. 1 The final design used more continuous curves, and was less angular than those seen in the drawing.
Technique
Designs for a monogram 'SJM', The Hunterian
Some of the designs are single outlines, and some designs have multiple outlines. The designs could have been made James Whistler or by his wife, Beatrice Philip (Mrs E. W. Godwin, Mrs J. McN. Whistler) (1857-1896), who is known to have designed jewellery.
Conservation History
The drawings appear to have been done while the paper was still folded around a copperplate, and was 180 x 130 mm as folded. The paper was shiny inside, to protect the plate. It is now soiled and discoloured.
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
As far as known, 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. 1535) as 'Designs for a monogram 'SJM'.
Websites
- The Hunterian website at http://collections.gla.ac.uk.
Notes:
1: Seen on a letter from Sophia's sister, Helen ('Nellie') Euphrosyne Whistler (1849-1917) to J. Pennell, written in February 1905, on the occasion of her sister's death, from 2 Marlborough Gate (LC PC 303 #4881).