The Penny Boat

1859

James McNeill Whistler

Associated Names
James McNeill Whistler

Artist, American, 1834 - 1903

The image depicts a harbor scene with a crowd of people in the foreground, boats and ships on the water, and buildings lining the horizon. The drawing uses monochromatic colors and intricate linework to show light and shadow, creating a sepia-toned effect.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    etching and drypoint in dark brown on laid paper

  • Credit Line

    Rosenwald Collection

  • Dimensions

    sheet (trimmed within plate mark): 8.57 x 20.64 cm (3 3/8 x 8 1/8 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1943.3.8443

  • Catalogue Raisonné

    MacDonald 2012, no. 71, state ii/ii

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Bernard Buchanan MacGeorge [1845?-1924], Glasgow, (Lugt 394), probably before 1902. (H. Wunderlich & Co., New York, 1903, stock no. a 37246). (Knoedler & Co., New York (stock no. MK 32555); 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. 67, ii/ii.

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. 71, state ii/ii.

Inscriptions

on tab butterfly: imp.

Wikidata ID

Q65021860

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