The Paintings of James McNeill Whistler

Date

The Little London Sparrow probably dates from 1896 or 1897. ¹

The Little London Sparrow, Private collection

A visitor described Whistler at work on this portrait or another of the same sitter:

'My wife and I paid a pleasant and entertaining visit to Whistler in the February of this year, at the very shabby quarters he was then occupying at 8 Fitzroy Street, a poor habitation for one so richly endowed. He was engaged at the time in painting a pretty child he had found in the neighbouring street, "a little London sparrow" he called her, "brought up on gin." He had made, so far as he had gone, a lovely picture of half tones that seemed vibrating all over the canvas.' ²

In October 1897 Whistler wrote from Paris to the art dealer Edward Guthrie Kennedy (1849-1932) of Wunderlich's, asking if he was still interested in buying 'the little London waif - The London sparrow.' ³

According to Whistler's sister-in-law, Rosalind Birnie Philip (1873-1958), it was varnished in 1902; the collector Charles Lang Freer (1856-1919) said it was 'finished' in 1902. ⁴

Images

Subject

Titles

Several possible titles have been suggested:

• 'Portrait de fillette' (n.d., anon.). ⁵
• 'the little London waif - The London sparrow' (1897, Whistler). ⁶
• 'L'Enfant du Gin' (1902, G. W. Vanderbilt). ⁷
• 'Little London Sparrow' (1902, R. B. Philip). ⁸
• 'The Little London Sparrow' (1905, Œuvres de James McNeill Whistler, Paris). ⁹
• 'The Little London Sparrow' (1980, YMSM). ¹⁰

In 1902 Charles Lang Freer (1856-1919) visited Whistler's studio and apparently discussed the titles with Whistler: 'Its title now is "The Sparrow" formerly it was called "The Gin Girl" and at times "The Juniper Bud".' ¹¹ Freer may have misunderstood one of the titles, for another portrait has been identified as Little Juniper Bud - Lizzie Willis y475.

'The Little London Sparrow' is the preferred title.

Description

The Little London Sparrow, private collection

A half-length portrait of a girl, in vertical format. She wears a light-coloured pinafore. Her hair is dark and curly, and she looks directly at the viewer.

Sitter

'Lizzie' was Elizabeth Willis (fl. 1890/1900).

It is just possible she was Elizabeth M. Willis, recorded in the 1901 UK census as the eight year old daughter of Thomas J. Willis, frame maker, and Mary A. Willis. However, this seems a little too young.

In 1902 Charles Lang Freer (1856-1919) visited Whistler's studio and described this portrait:

'Painting of Lizzie an eight year old child whose parents formerly occupied the house at 8 Fitzroy St. The painting was begun some time ago before the mother of 'Little Sophie' took 8 Fitzroy St. It was finished and sent to V[anderbilt] this year (1902) Its title now is "The Sparrow" formerly it was called "The Gin Girl" and at times "The Juniper Bud" - The father & mother were both dissipated.' ¹²

In fact another portrait of Lizzie was entitled Little Juniper Bud - Lizzie Willis y475.

Technique

Technique

The Little London Sparrow, private collection

It appears to be thinly painted and rubbed. It has not been seen by the authors of this catalogue.

Conservation History

Unknown.

Frame

Unknown.

History

Provenance

• 1897: sold by Whistler to Wunderlich, New York dealers, but retained by the artist;
• 1902: bought by George Washington Vanderbilt (1862-1914), Asheville, NC;
• 1914: on his death, passed by family descent to a private collection.

It was probably the painting referred to by Edward Guthrie Kennedy (1849-1932) of Wunderlich & Co., New York art dealers, on 3 July 1897, as a 'Little Girl' which they were buying from Whistler, at £500. ¹³ In October 1897 Whistler wrote from Paris to Kennedy, 'Are you still desirous to hold the little London waif - The London sparrow - you remember saying you would like to have it - and I told you I should want £500. for it?' ¹⁴ Kennedy queried the price:

'The London Sparrow. Yes, when ready let me know, but as you have a conscience, I'm sure you will charge me less than 500 /- /- for it. Do you know that Whistlers are dutiable now? He has lived too long abroad to be considered American any more, so the Treasury rules!!' ¹⁵

On 6 November 1897 Kennedy listed 'Sparrow' among paintings bought but not received. ¹⁶ In the following June he sent Whistler a cheque:

'I take the liberty of enclosing a cheque for £450 /- /- for the "Sparrow". I had intended to give only 400 /- /-, for say what you will, size plays / a part in the price of paintings. This is a compromise between your 500 and my 400 /- /-. If, under the Circumstances (20 per cent duty if it goes to America) you can accept this, I shall be delighted. If not, I shall heave a sigh & swallow my disappointment.' ¹⁷

Whistler, naturally, did not agree: "Of course I dont want to grieve you and send you back your cheque - but you know I can easily place the 'Sparrow'", he wrote, suggesting that they could share profits over £450.0.0. ¹⁸ Kennedy assented to this and also agreed to let the painting be exhibited before it was sent to him on his return to London. ¹⁹ However, it was not sent to New York at that time. Finally in 1902 it was varnished, and bought for his Paris apartment by George W. Vanderbilt. ²⁰

Its current whereabouts is not known, although it is assumed it has remained in the Vanderbilt family or estate.

Exhibitions

• Œuvres de James McNeill Whistler, Palais de l'Ecole des Beaux-Arts, Paris, 1905 (cat. no. 41b) as 'The Little London Sparrow'.

On the verso is a label which reads 'No. 2/ MacNeill [sic] Whistler/ Portrait de fillette', which suggests it was sent to another exhibition in France at some time.

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. 477), plate 308, as 'The Little London Sparrow'.

Authored by Whistler

• None.

Catalogues 1855-1905

• Œuvres de James McNeill Whistler, Palais de l'Ecole des Beaux-Arts, Paris, 1905 (cat. no. 41b) as 'The Little London Sparrow'.

Journals 1855-1905

• None.

Monographs

• None.

Books on Whistler

• Sutherland, Daniel E., Whistler: A Life for Art's Sake, New Haven and London, 2014, p. 329.

Books, General

• Temple, Alfred George, Guildhall Memories, London, 1918, reprinted 2013, pp. 174-75; text online in The Internet Archive at https://archive.org.

Catalogues 1906-Present

• Whistler and Vanderbilt: An Artist and His Patron, Biltmore House, Asheville, NC, 2014.

Journals 1906-Present

• None.

Websites

• 'Whistler and Vanderbilt: An Artist and His Patron', Biltmore House website at http://www.tfaoi.com.

Unpublished

• Revillon, Joseph Whistler, Draft Catalogue Raisonné of the Paintings of J. McN. Whistler, [ca 1945-1955], Glasgow University Library (cat. no. 294).

Other

• None.