The Velvet Dress

1873

James McNeill Whistler

Associated Names
James McNeill Whistler

Artist, American, 1834 - 1903

The image shows a sketch of a woman standing in a profile view. She is facing towards the left side of the image with delicate facial features and neatly styled hair. The woman is wearing a long garment with fine detailing around the collar and shoulders. There are no visible accessories or objects in her hands. The background consists of vertical lines that suggest draped fabric or curtains. The sketch emphasizes the woman's form and posture with its minimalistic style.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    drypoint on Asian laid paper

  • Credit Line

    Rosenwald Collection

  • Dimensions

    plate: 23.2 x 16.2 cm (9 1/8 x 6 3/8 in.)
    sheet: 30.2 x 20 cm (11 7/8 x 7 7/8 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1943.3.8464

  • Catalogue Raisonné

    Kennedy 1910, no. 105, iv/v

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Sir John Day [1826-1908], London, (Lugt 526). (H. Wunderlich & Co., New York). Theodore de Witt (according to an inscription on the mat), (not in Lugt). Lessing Julius Rosenwald [1891-1971], Philadelphia, (Lugt 1760b); 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.

1994

  • James McNeill Whistler, Tate Gallery, London; Musée d'Orsay, Paris; National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1994-1995, no. 75.

Bibliography

1910

  • Kennedy, Edward G. The Etched Work of Whistler. New York: Grolier Club, 1910, no. 105, iv/v.

1994

  • James McNeill Whistler. Exh. cat. Tate Gallery, London; Musée d'Orsay, Paris; National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1994-1995: no. 75.

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. 120, state v?/vii.

Inscriptions

(butterfly); by later hands: lower left on the recto: W.91; center on recto: The Velvet Dress; lower centre on the verso: No. 3; lower right on the verso: (C)94

Wikidata ID

Q65021881

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