The Paintings of James McNeill Whistler

Date

Arrangement of paintings at the ISSPG was drawn in a letter from Whistler at 110 rue du Bac in Paris to Albert Ludovici, Jr (1852-1932) in April 1898. ¹

Arrangement of paintings at the ISSPG, Library Of Congress

It is catalogued in MacDonald 1995 (cat. rais.) [more] (cat. no. 1539).

Images

Subject

Description

Arrangement of paintings at the ISSPG, Library Of Congress

A plan of Whistler's panel of eight paintings in an exhibition.

Technique

Composition

Arrangement of paintings at the ISSPG, Library Of Congress

The relevant text reads:

'I am sending plan tomorrow night to Howard of way in which I want my things grouped - but I rely on you to understand - / [sketch] /

So if I send my portrait you will put it between the Rosa Corder [sketch] [p. 3] and the Princess - leaving nice margin - and keeping all on line, more than in sketch.' ²

This sketch shows eight of the nine oils sent by Whistler to the ISSPG in 1898. Reading from left to right they are: At the Piano y024, a small oil (possibly meant to be The Thames in Ice y036), Arrangement in Brown and Black: Portrait of Miss Rosa Corder y203, Grey and Silver: La Petite Souris y502, La Princesse du pays de la porcelaine y050, Rose and Brown: The Philosopher y472, Blue and Coral: The Little Blue Bonnet y500 and Nocturne in Blue and Gold: Valparaiso Bay y076.

Technique

It is drawn in the same pen and ink as the letter.

Conservation History

The sheet was written on three sides, the drawing being on the last, fourth side. The letter was then folded again to send to Ludovici, the fold now being slightly soiled.

History

Provenance

• 1898: sent by Whistler to Albert Ludovici, Jr (1852-1932);
• Date unknown: possibly given to Joseph Pennell (1860-1926);
• 1927/1936: given by Elizabeth Robins Pennell (1855-1936) to the Library of Congress.

See further details in MacDonald 1995 (cat. rais.) [more] (cat. no. 1539).

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. 1539) as 'Arrangement of paintings at the ISSPG'.

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 #08075.