The Paintings of James McNeill Whistler

Date

Two butterflies on tricolour flags among the clouds were drawn in 1899 as an illustration for Whistler 1899 (F)[more].

Two butterflies on tricolour flags among the clouds, The Hunterian

It is catalogued in MacDonald 1995 (cat. rais.) [more] (cat. no. 1558).

Images

Subject

Description

Two butterflies on tricolour flags among the clouds, The Hunterian

Two butterflies in the clouds, with shading suggesting tricolour flags behind them.

Comments

In 1894 William Eden (1849-1915) commissioned a portrait of his wife Sybil Frances Grey, Lady Eden (1867-1945). Whistler, dissatisfied with the amount (100gns) and manner of payment, retained and altered the portrait (Brown and Gold: Portrait of Lady Eden y408). After an appeal, in December 1897, the Court de Cassation let him retain the portrait but return the money. Whistler was well satisfied to see the Code Napoléon altered, to specify an artist's right to decide the fate of his works.

Whistler planned to publish an account of the affair, a compilation of letters, newspaper reports and legal documents, with William Heinemann (1863-1920), who had published the Gentle Art of Making Enemies in 1890. There was some problem with publishing in London, and, with Heinemann’s tacit agreement, Louis-Henry May in Paris took over the publication. A first proof was run off, using mainly butterflies originally drawn for the Gentle Art of Making Enemies. These butterflies were mostly replaced by new ones, in a second proof. There are at least two versions of some of the designs. They were slightly reduced in size in the final publication.

For the book, Whistler designed 15 butterflies, a club (A club on a cushion m1564), and a frog (Frog m1553). He also drew some butterflies which were not used (v.: Butterfly; r.: see No. 1268 m1572, Butterfly with chequered wings m1578, r.: Butterfly; v.: Butterfly with chequered wings m1579). The Baronet and the Butterfly was comparatively sparing of butterflies. Many marginal annotations, which in the Gentle Art of Making Enemies would have warranted a butterfly, did not get one. Some of the butterflies were very badly reproduced (r. and v.: Butterfly m1561, r.: Butterfly 'Encountered'; v.: Butterfly m1562). There were obviously publication problems, and it was not an entirely satisfactory venture. However, Whistler did not admit of criticism and seems, publicly, to have been entirely satisfied with the outcome.

Technique

Composition

Two butterflies on tricolour flags among the clouds, The Hunterian

Butterfly and tricolour flag in Eden versus Whistler: The Baronet and the Butterfly, p. viii, Glasgow University Library

This was drawn for publication in Whistler 1899 (F)[more]. This butterfly was not used. The butterfly reproduced at the end of the "Argument" was more flamboyant, with a long tail, Butterfly and tricolour flag m1560.

Conservation History

The bottom edge is uneven (it is the other half of r.: Two butterflies, one on a tricolour flag; v.: Butterfly on a tricolour flag m1559) and has a smudge of brown on it

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 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. 1558) as 'Two butterflies on tricolour flags among the clouds'.

Authored by Whistler

• Whistler, James McNeill, Eden versus Whistler: The Baronet and the Butterfly. A Valentine with a Verdict, Paris: Louis-Henry May, 1899, p. viii.

Websites

• The Hunterian website at http://collections.gla.ac.uk.