The Smithy

c. 1880

James McNeill Whistler

Associated Names
James McNeill Whistler

Artist, American, 1834 - 1903

This is a drawing of an artist's studio with various objects and furniture scattered throughout the room. The studio has a high, slanting roof textured with cross-hatching lines. A large window on the left side lets in light, illuminating the space. Items such as tables, chairs, easels, and artworks are present. The room appears busy and chaotic with many sketchy lines creating a sense of creativity. Delicate shading adds depth and detail to the scene.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    etching and drypoint on laid paper

  • Credit Line

    Rosenwald Collection

  • Dimensions

    overall (trimmed to plate): 17.3 × 22.7 cm (6 13/16 × 8 15/16 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1943.3.8565

  • Catalogue Raisonné

    MacDonald 2012, no. 239, state i/vi

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Possibly Joshua H. Hutchinson [c. 1829 - 1892], London. (Sotheby's, London, 3 March 1892 (lots 295/296/297/298/300); Purchased by F. Keppel. Owned by W. S. Carter, Brooklyn, according to E.G. Kennedy, 1910. Henry Harper Benedict [1844-1935], New York, (Lugt 2936). Purchased on December 3, 1928 by 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. 240, i/v.

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. 239, state i/vi.

Inscriptions

on plate: (butterfly); on tab: (butterfly) imp; lower centre on verso: 12550c; lower right on verso: D7067; lower right on the verso (possibly by Whistler): [2?]; lower right on the verso: EO

Watermarks

none

Wikidata ID

Q65021981

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