The Paintings of James McNeill Whistler

Date

Arrangement of paintings at the ISSPG was drawn in a letter from Whistler in Paris to Albert Ludovici, Jr (1852-1932) in London, in late April or May 1898. ¹

Arrangement of paintings at the ISSPG, Library of Congress

It is catalogued in MacDonald 1995 (cat. rais.) [more] (cat. no. 1534).

Images

Subject

Description

Arrangement of paintings at the ISSPG, Library of Congress

A row of paintings, drawings and etchings hung on the line in an exhibition.

Technique

Composition

Arrangement of paintings at the ISSPG, Library of Congress

The relevant text of Whistler's letter to Albert Ludovici reads:

'The three little etchings that were done by my wife You will place prettily next to my pictures as shown in drawing

[sketch of pictures upon wall, numbered left to right:] '6 5 4 1. 3 2. 7. 8 9' [and three frames numbered:] '10.'

'1. Rose Corder. 2. Princess. 3. Portrait. 4. Piano. 5. Oval. 6. Thames in ice. 7. Philosopher. 8. Nocturne Valparaiso. 9. Petite Souris (girls head with feather boa) 10. "Etchings by Mrs McNeill Whistler".'

Or [sketch of pictures numbered left to right:] '2 10 7. 8 9.'

Yes this [p. 2] * last way I prefer - and it gives you no trouble - Hang all my pictures on the line - excepting the Holloway (Philosopher) just a tiny bit up to make the line pretty - and perhaps the Petite Souris - also slightly - a matter for your eye - And be sure to see to the proper tilting over - so that can be well seen.' ²

Whistler sent nine oils to the ISSPG in 1898 (cat. nos. 175-183) including, at the last minute, his self-portrait Gold and Brown y462. The sketch includes At the Piano y024, 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.

Wall of the First International Exhibition at Knightsbridge, 1898, from Pennell 1921, f.p. 150, Library of Congress

The sketches suggest two arrangements of the panel, showing twelve frames. A photograph of the hanging of Whistler's panel was reproduced by the Pennells, showing that the second of the plans was adopted. ³ The etchings by Beatrice Philip (Mrs E. W. Godwin, Mrs J. McN. Whistler) (1857-1896) are unidentified in the exhibition catalogue. ⁴

Technique

Arrangement of paintings at the ISSPG, Library of Congress

The same pen and ink was used for the letter (only a detail of which is reproduced here) and the sketches.

Conservation History

The writing paper was folded to fit the envelope, and the folds are somewhat 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. 1540) 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 #10694.