The Paintings of James McNeill Whistler
YMSM 202
A Symphony in Sand
Date
A Symphony in Sand dates from the time of Whistler's bankruptcy in 1879 or from the early 1880s. 1 It is known only from its sale at Christie's, London, 13 November 1890 (lot 436). It has been included because there is no record of Whistler disputing its authenticity.
Images
A Symphony in Sand, Whereabouts unknown
Subject
Titles
Only one title is known:
- 'A Symphony in Sand' (1890, Christie's). 2
- 'A Symphony in Sand' (1980, YMSM). 3
It is highly unlikely, if this was a painting by Whistler (which is not certain), that this was his title.
Description
A beach!
Site
Possibly the coast at Selsey Bill where the first owner, C. A. Howell, had a house in the early 1880s.
Comments
It is not known whether this was an authentic oil painting by Whistler, or what became of it (see The Selsey Shore y200). However, it was sold in Whistler's lifetime and there is no record of him disputing the painting.
Technique
Technique
Unknown.
Conservation History
Unknown.
Frame
Unknown.
History
Provenance
- Before 1890: Charles Augustus Howell (1840?-1890);
- 1890: sold after his death, Christie's, London, 13 November 1890 (436) as 'A Symphony in Sand' for £6.16.6.
If this was indeed a painting by Whistler, it could have been acquired by Howell at the time of Whistler's bankruptcy or in the early 1880s.
Exhibitions
- Unknown.
Bibliography
Catalogues Raisonnés
- Young, Andrew McLaren, Margaret F. MacDonald, Robin Spencer, and Hamish Miles, The Paintings of James McNeill Whistler, New Haven and London, 1980 (cat. no. 202) as 'A Symphony in Sand'.
Authored by Whistler
- None.
Catalogues 1855-1905
SALE:
- Christie's, London, 13 November 1890 (lot 436) as 'A Symphony in Sand' .
Journals 1855-1905
- None.
Monographs
- None.
Books on Whistler
- None.
Books, General
- None.
Catalogues 1906-Present
- None.
Journals 1906-Present
- None.
Websites
- None.
Unpublished
- Revillon, Joseph Whistler, Draft Catalogue Raisonné of the Paintings of J. McN. Whistler, [ca 1945-1955], Glasgow University Library (cat. no. 634).
Other
- None.
Notes:
1: YMSM 1980 [more] (cat. no. 202).
2: Christie's, London, 13 November 1890 (lot 436).
3: YMSM 1980 [more] (cat. no. 202).