The Thames Towards Erith

c. 1877

James McNeill Whistler

Associated Names
James McNeill Whistler

Artist, American, 1834 - 1903

The image depicts a view from a slightly elevated position overlooking a body of water. The horizon line is marked by ships and masts in the upper third of the composition. The sky above shows cloud-like forms. Small boats with figures on them are seen near the viewer. In the distance, there are sailing vessels on the water leading to larger, docked ships. On the right side, there is a structure by the water, possibly a boathouse. Linear strokes are used to depict texture and movement in the water and sky. The image is monochrome, focusing on light and shadow created by the pencil or etching technique.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    drypoint on laid paper

  • Credit Line

    Rosenwald Collection

  • Dimensions

    plate: 14.6 × 22.3 cm (5 3/4 × 8 3/4 in.)
    sheet (irreg.): 19.6 × 27.4 cm (7 11/16 × 10 13/16 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1943.3.8499

  • Catalogue Raisonné

    MacDonald 2012, no. 173, state iv/iv

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

(H. Wunderlich & Co., New York, ,stock no. a 45541). Henry Harper Benedict [1844-1935], New York, (Lugt 394). Lessing Julius Rosenwald [1891-1971], Philadelphia, (Lugt 1760b-c); gift to NGA, 1943.

Associated Names

Exhibition History

1931

  • Etchings, Lithographs, Original Drawings, and Autograph Letters by James A. McNeill Whistler, The Free Library of Philadelphia, 1931.

Bibliography

1910

  • Kennedy, Edward G. The Etched Work of Whistler. New York: Grolier Club, 1910, no. 165, iv/iv.

2012

  • MacDonald, Margaret F., Grischka Petri, Joanna Meacock.James McNeill Whistler: The Etchings, a catalogue raisonné. University of Glasgow on-line website at http://etchings.arts.gla.ac.uk. University of Glasgow, 2012: no. 173, state iv/iv.

Inscriptions

[Whistler's butterfly signature] lower right composition, in plate, artist's hand. "[Whistler's butterfly signature] imp." lower left margin, graphite, artist's hand. "a45541 / a34695 [stricken]" verso, lower left sheet, graphite, unknown hand. "W. 135" verso, lower left sheet, graphite, unknown hand.

Markings

"LRJ" verso, black stamped ink. "National Gallery of Art" verso, black stamped ink. (Henry H. Benedict collector's stampt) verso, black stamped ink, (Lugt 1298).

Watermarks

"HGH"

Wikidata ID

Q65021916

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