Upright Venice

1879-1880

James McNeill Whistler

Associated Names
James McNeill Whistler

Artist, American, 1834 - 1903

The image shows a vast expanse of water leading towards a distant cityscape. The horizon is placed roughly at the upper third of the image, where the cityscape emerges with small architectural structures and larger dome-like buildings creating a skyline. Some tall ships with masts are visible near the city's edge, appearing anchored or in motion towards the docks. The artwork uses fine linear strokes to create a delicate composition. The color palette is mostly monochromatic with variations of gray and beige, giving the scene a muted appearance. Closest to us is a solitary boat gently resting on the water's surface, leading the eye towards the distant city. The sky above features sparse, linear clouds spread out thinly, enhancing the tranquility of the setting.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    etching and drypoint on laid paper

  • Credit Line

    Rosenwald Collection

  • Dimensions

    plate: 25.4 × 17.78 cm (10 × 7 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1943.3.8539

  • Catalogue Raisonné

    MacDonald 2012, no. 232, state ii/vii

  • Series Title

    A Set of Twenty-Six Etchings


Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Reputedly from the collection of Henry Studdy Theobald (1847-1934), London. Lessing Julius Rosenwald [1891-1971], Philadelphia, (Lugt 1760b-c); gift to NGA, 1943.  

Associated Names

Exhibition History

2003

  • "Whistler and His Circle in Venice", The Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington; The Grolier Club, New York, 2003, no. 52.

Bibliography

1910

  • Kennedy, Edward G. The Etched Work of Whistler. New York: Grolier Club, 1910, no. 205.

1996

  • McNamara, Carloe and John Siewert. Whistler: Prosaic Views, Poetic Vision. Ann Arbor, 1996: fig. 45a.

2012

  • MacDonald, Margaret, Grischka Petri, Meg Hausberg, and Joanna Meacock. James McNeill Whistler: The Etchings, A Catalogue Raisonné. Scotland: University of Glasgow, 2012, no. 232, ii/vii. http://etchings.arts.gla.ac.uk

Inscriptions

lower left on recto: C 27701; verson center: 32

Watermarks

partial eagle (not the same as Chicago watermark 114)

Wikidata ID

Q65021956

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