Thames Police

1859

James McNeill Whistler

Associated Names
James McNeill Whistler

Artist, American, 1834 - 1903

The artwork depicts a riverside scene with a bustling dock area. The composition features a line of old buildings and ships along the river bank extending into the distance. The sky has gentle brushstrokes creating a subtle texture, suggesting lightly clouded skies. The color palette is monochromatic in shades of sepia and brown. Figures are engaged in activities by the water, with small boats spread across the scene. In the distance, tall ships with masts stand against the row of buildings, and a sign reading "Thames Police" is visible on one of the structures.

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 in black on wove paper

  • Credit Line

    Corcoran Collection (Bequest of Julius Garfinckel)

  • Dimensions

    plate: 15.08 × 22.23 cm (5 15/16 × 8 3/4 in.)
    sheet: 25.4 × 28.89 cm (10 × 11 3/8 in.)

  • Accession Number

    2015.19.427

  • Catalogue Raisonné

    MacDonald 2012, no. 53, state iii/vi

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Howard Mansfield, New York; Julius Garfinckel, Washington, DC; Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, DC, 1938; acquired 2015 by the National Gallery of Art

Associated Names

Exhibition History

1952

  • Whistler, Hunter Gallery of Art, Chattanooga, Tennessee, 1952

1982

  • Whistler’s World: The Master’s Etchings, Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, DC, 1982, no. 9

1990

  • Haden, Whistler, Pennell: Three Master Printmakers in the Corcoran Gallery of Art, Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, DC, 1990, no. 24, repro

Bibliography

1910

  • Kennedy, Edward G. The Etched Work of Whistler. New York: Grolier Club, 1910, no. 44.

2012

  • MacDonald, Margaret, Grischka Petri, Meg Hausberg, and Joanna Meacock. James McNeill Whistler: The Etchings, A Catalogue Raisonné. Scotland: University of Glasgow, 2012, no. 53, iii/iv. http://etchings.arts.gla.ac.uk

Inscriptions

lower right in plate: Whistler 1859.; lower center edge in graphite by unknown hand: Thames Police

Markings

stamped lower right verso in blue ink: HM [circled]

Wikidata ID

Q77008707

You may be interested in

Loading Results