Marbles

c. 1887

James McNeill Whistler

Associated Names
James McNeill Whistler

Artist, American, 1834 - 1903

This drawing shows a shopfront with figures in front of it. The sketch features a storefront with a large window divided into several panes, some of which suggest decorative items. In front of the shop, several minimally detailed figures are depicted in various poses, possibly interacting with their surroundings. The style is quick and loose, giving an impressionistic view of a casual street scene.

Media Options

This object’s media is free and in the public domain. Read our full Open Access policy for images.
Not on view See artworks now on view

Artwork overview

  • Medium

    etching and drypoint on laid paper

  • Credit Line

    Rosenwald Collection

  • Dimensions

    overall (trimmed to plate): 13.2 × 9.5 cm (5 3/16 × 3 3/4 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1943.3.8588

  • Catalogue Raisonné

    MacDonald 2012, no. 270, state i/iii

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

(Knoedler & Co., New York). Purchased November 26, 1929 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. 284, i/iii.

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. 270, state i/iii.

Inscriptions

on plate: (butterfly); in plate on door: BATEY; on tab: (butterfly) imp; lower right on the verso: Marbles (partly underlined); lower left on verso: MK 32567; lower center on verso: #26

Watermarks

none

Wikidata ID

Q65022005

You may be interested in

Loading Results