A Sketch from Billingsgate

1878

James McNeill Whistler

Associated Names
James McNeill Whistler

Artist, American, 1834 - 1903

The image depicts a harbor scene with various ships and boats on the water. The perspective is from slightly above, showing the water filled with vessels. Tall masts of sailboats obscure most of the horizon. The sketch-like style is characterized by soft etching, creating a sense of detail through overlapping lines. The color scheme is monochrome, with varying shades of gray to black on an off-white background. Larger boats are in the foreground, leading the eye towards smaller vessels in the distance. Industrial structures are visible along the shoreline in the background.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    drypoint on laid paper

  • Credit Line

    Rosenwald Collection

  • Dimensions

    plate: 14.92 x 22.54 cm (5 7/8 x 8 7/8 in.)
    sheet: 20.96 x 34.29 cm (8 1/4 x 13 1/2 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1943.3.8503

  • Catalogue Raisonné

    Kennedy 1910, no. 168, i/vi

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

T.W. Walker. (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.

Bibliography

1910

  • Kennedy, Edward G. The Etched Work of Whistler. New York: Grolier Club, 1910, no. 168, i/vi.

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. 165, state i/viii.

Inscriptions

lower left on recto by Harold Wright: Whistler. / K168i Sketch from Billingsgate; lower right on recto: of I ; lower right on recto by Seymour Haden?: 1st state-; lower right on recto: B.322; upper left on recto: ?;lower centre on verso: 19; lower right on verso: Whistler / Haden (Haden erased)

Watermarks

Beehive DEDB [?]

Wikidata ID

Q65021920

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