The Paintings of James McNeill Whistler

Date

Sketchbook dates from 1902. This book may have been from the late summer of 1902, because there is a reference to Dr Coest, at the Hague (p. 21), where Whistler was taken ill in July.

Letter to Count Montesquiou, 1902, from sketchbook (p. 27), The Hunterian

The only dated letter is a draft, written to Robert de Montesquiou-Fezensac (1855-1921), on 7 December 1902, from 74 Cheyne Walk, Chelsea (p. 27). ¹ In the letter Whistler expressed disappointment at hearing of the sale of Arrangement in Black and Gold: Comte Robert de Montesquiou-Fezensac y398.

It is catalogued in MacDonald 1995 (cat. rais.) [more] (cat. no. 1711).

Images

Subject

Description

This book was used more for notes than for sketches, including a reference to Dr Coest, at the Hague (p. 21), where Whistler was taken ill in July 1902, and a draft letter to Robert de Montesquiou-Fezensac (1855-1921), 7 December 1902, written from 74 Cheyne Walk (p. 27). ² A number of sheets have been cut out of the book (pp. 1-20, 43-4, 53-4) but whether by Whistler or Miss Birnie Philip is not known, since they both edited the collection.

Inside front cover: '8 Fitzroy Street Fitzroy Square', signed with butterfly. Inscribed with addresses including C. L. Freer's courier, Luciano Bellinotti, at Grand Hotel, Naples.

pp. 1-20: removed (the first eight sheets, pp. 1-16, were cut out with a knife at some time).

p. 21: drafts of letters including ones to 'Mrs Del', 1 Stanley Grove, Manchester; Doctor Coest, The Hague; and to a French lawyer.

p. 23: quotes from critics, including Frederick Wedmore (1844-1921), of Whistler's work, particularly etchings'

p. 24: sum.

p. 25: note of dates from 14 November-1 December.

Letter to Count Montesquiou, 1902, from sketchbook (p. 27), The Hunterian, Glasgow

p. 27: draft of letter to Robert de Montesquiou-Fezensac (1855-1921) dated 7 December 1902, written from 74 Cheyne Walk.

p. 29: 'Douglas Murray/ Runnymede Park/ Englefield Green,/ Egham.' in unknown hand.

pp. 30-31: quotations from Proverbs, in the Bible.

Face, 1902, sketchbook (p. 41), The Hunterian

p. 41: Face, pen and brown ink A slight sketch of an eye, nose, and forehead.

pp. 43-44, 53-54: removed.

pp. 82-83: draft of letter about Charley Brookfield and the Saville Club.

Head of a woman, sketchbook (p. 86), The Hunterian

p. 86: Head of a woman, pencil. She has a bouffant hair style

Flowers, and the neck of a dress, sketchbook (inside back cover), The Hunterian

Inside back cover: Flowers, and the neck of a dress, pencil, pen and brown ink

Technique

Technique

Face, 1902, sketchbook (p. 41), The Hunterian

Head of a woman, sketchbook (p. 86), The Hunterian

Flowers, and the neck of a dress, sketchbook (inside back cover), The Hunterian

See MacDonald 1995 (cat. rais.) [more] (cat. no. 1711).

Conservation History

It is thin, cheap paper, with noticeable fibres and flecks of stalk, which give the surface some roughness and bite. Faintly visible on one side is a fine vertical grain, a diamond grain on the other.

History

Provenance

• 1903: in Whistler's studio at his death, and bequeathed to his ward and executrix, Rosalind Birnie Philip (1873-1958) ;
• 1958: bequeathed by Miss R. 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. 1711) as 'Sketchbook'.

Websites

• The Hunterian, University of Glasgow website at http://collections.gla.ac.uk.