The Paintings of James McNeill Whistler

Date

Beach scene with fishing boats appears to date from Whistler's visit to Cornwall from January to March 1884. It is dated from what can be seen of the technique and the butterfly signature: it is known only from a photograph.

Images

Subject

Titles

Whistler's original title is not known. Suggested titles are as follows:

• 'Seascape' (1974/1994, Kennedy Galleries).
• 'Beach scene with fishing boats' (2021, WPP).

A descriptive title, 'Beach scene with fishing boats', has been substituted for the Kennedy Gallery's title.

Description

Beach scene with fishing boats, Whereabouts unknown

Several small fishing boats are drawn up on the beach or approaching the beach, with some fishermen in the boats and one standing in the surf. A couple of boats have their sails raised.

Site

Probably in or near St Ives, Cornwall, UK.

Technique

Technique

Beach scene with fishing boats, Whereabouts unknown

The brushwork appears fairly bold and free. The oil is known only from a photograph.

Conservation History

Unknown.

Frame

Unknown.

History

Provenance

• 1974/1994: with Kennedy, New York art dealer.

This is known only from a photograph in the Frick Art Reference Library, given to the archive on 16 February 2005. The photograph bears the stamped address, 'Kennedy Galleries, 40 West 57th St., New York, N. Y. 10019' which suggests it was taken between 1974 and 1994.

Exhibitions

Unknown. It is possible, however, that it was shown in Wunderlich's in 1889 or later, or at its successor, the Kennedy Galleries.

It is just possible it was shown at “Notes” – “Harmonies” – “Nocturnes”, H. Wunderlich & Co., New York, 1889 (cat. no. 24) as 'Grey and Green – Cornwall' (see Grey and Green: Cornwall y277).

Bibliography

Catalogues Raisonnés

• None.

Authored by Whistler

• None.

Catalogues 1855-1905

• None.

Journals 1855-1905

• None.

Monographs

• None.

Books on Whistler

• None.

Books, General

• None.

Catalogues 1906-Present

• None.

Journals 1906-Present

• None.

Websites

• None.

Unpublished

• None.

Other

• Frick Art Reference Library, ContainerID 3107100224843, Frick Digital Collections website at https://digitalcollections.frick.org/digico/#/