Temple

c. 1880/1881

James McNeill Whistler

Associated Names
James McNeill Whistler

Artist, American, 1834 - 1903

The etching displays a street view featuring a large, multi-storied building. The perspective is slightly angled, enhancing the depth. The horizon is not prominent, as the buildings extend vertically. A horse-drawn cart is in front of the building, with a gas lamp nearby. A tree is on the right. The brushstrokes are subtle and minimalistic. The color scheme is monochromatic, using the paper's tone and black ink for contrast. Additional faintly sketched buildings appear in the distance.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    etching in dark brown on laid paper

  • Credit Line

    Rosenwald Collection

  • Dimensions

    overall (trimmed to plate): 10.1 × 15.2 cm (4 × 6 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1943.3.8558

  • Catalogue Raisonné

    MacDonald 2012, no. 245, state i/i

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Lessing Julius Rosenwald [1891-1971], Philadelphia, (Lugt 1760b); gift to National Gallery of Art, 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. 234.

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. 245, state i/i.

Inscriptions

on plate: (butterfly); on tab: (butterfly) imp; lower right on verso: c.6522; lower center on verso: P 15771; verso: Temple; lower left on verso by Harold Wright:K/234 only state

Watermarks

none

Wikidata ID

Q65021974

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