Fish-Shop, Venice

1880

James McNeill Whistler

Associated Names
James McNeill Whistler

Artist, American, 1834 - 1903

This is a drawing of an urban street scene featuring an alleyway and architectural elements. The drawing shows a view of a street, leading through an archway to an alley. In the foreground, steps lead down into the scene, with architectural details framing the path. The alley is bustling with activity. The etched lines are fine and closely woven, creating detailed textures reflecting the stonework and woodwork of buildings. The architecture includes a visible facade with an arch and inner rooms seen through large openings resembling windows, giving a glimpse of objects or furnishings inside. The overall tone of the drawing is muted with a focus on light and shadows capturing the mood of a historical city street.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    etching and drypoint in dark brown on laid paper

  • Credit Line

    Rosenwald Collection

  • Dimensions

    plate: 12.86 x 22.23 cm (5 1/16 x 8 3/4 in.)
    sheet (includes tab with signature): 13.49 x 22.23 cm (5 5/16 x 8 3/4 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1943.3.8553

  • Catalogue Raisonné

    MacDonald 2012, no. 226, state iv/ix


Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Lessing Julius Rosenwald [1891-1971], Philadelphia, (Lugt 1760b); gift to National Gallery of Art, 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. 218, ii/vii.

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. 226, state iv/ix.

Inscriptions

on plate: 2 (butterflies); on tab: (butterfly) imp; lower left on verso: c.7516; c.15943; lower centre on the verso by Harold Wright: K218 I-II (the I-II superscript); lower right on the G/G/- (or script b/b/-)verso:

Watermarks

PRO PATRIA

Wikidata ID

Q65021970

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