The Paintings of James McNeill Whistler

Date

Draped Study probably dates from between 1885 and 1887. ¹ It is only known from a photograph, now in the Pennell Collection, Library of Congress, but originally owned by Mortimer Luddington Menpes (1860-1938), who was a close friend and 'follower' of Whistler, particularly around 1884-1886.

Draped Study, photograph, Library of Congress

Study of a Female Figure, Whereabouts unknown

Violet and Rose: La Belle du Jour, Fogg Art Museum

The lack of information about the scale of this picture makes it particularly difficult to date. If it was a small panel it could well date from the mid-1880s, the subject being comparable to such oils as Violet and Rose: La Belle de Jour y319, which dates from about 1885. However, if it was a larger work, possibly on canvas, it could have dated from the 1860s, being comparable, for example, to Study of a Female Figure y081.

Images

Subject

Titles

Whistler's original title is not known. One title has been suggested:

• 'Draped Study' (1980, YMSM). ²

Description

Draped Study, photograph, Library of Congress

A study of a woman, in vertical format. She stands facing the viewer, her head slightly bent to left (her right). She wears a pale coloured shapeless robe, gathered at her neck. Her arms are on her hips, swathed in the material of the robe (it is not clear if it has sleeves). She wears a cap or scarf on her head. She stands in front of a curtain.

The photograph that is the sole record of this painting measures 20.3 x 13.9 mm (5 1/2 x 7"), which suggests the proportions of the original. The photograph is blurred and the nature of the support cannot be made out.

Sitter

Unknown.

Technique

Technique

Draped Study, photograph, Library of Congress

Unknown. It appears, from the photograph to have been painted boldly: since the size is not known it is hard to assess.

Conservation History

Unknown.

Frame

Unknown.

History

Provenance

Unknown.

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. 320) as 'Draped Study'.

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Unpublished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

• None.