Thames Police

1859

James McNeill Whistler

Associated Names
James McNeill Whistler

Artist, American, 1834 - 1903

The image shows a detailed riverside scene with activity along the waterway and surrounding architecture. The horizon is defined by buildings on the right and ship masts on the left. The scene is rendered in fine etching strokes with a sepia color palette. Closest to the viewer are boats with people engaging in dockside activities. The river is occupied by tall-masted ships, and the skyline is defined by an urban landscape with visible signage.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    etching and drypoint on wove paper

  • Credit Line

    Rosenwald Collection

  • Dimensions

    plate: 15.24 x 22.23 cm (6 x 8 3/4 in.)
    sheet: 21.59 x 30.16 cm (8 1/2 x 11 7/8 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1943.3.8428

  • Catalogue Raisonné

    MacDonald 2012, no. 53, state ii/vi

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

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. 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, state ii/vi. http://etchings.arts.gla.ac.uk

Inscriptions

lower right in plate: Whistler. 1859.; lower center in graphite by unknown hand: Thames Police; lower right in graphite: (43) / [the artist's butterfly]

Wikidata ID

Q65021844

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