San Biagio

1879/1880

James McNeill Whistler

Associated Names
James McNeill Whistler

Artist, American, 1834 - 1903

The image shows a scene near a waterway with a grand arched structure in the background. Boats are seen along the shore by the water's edge. The archway is centrally positioned, leading the eye into a narrow street lined with buildings. The brushstrokes are delicate, creating a sketch-like quality. The color palette consists of muted sepia and gray tones, giving an antiquated feel to the scene. Faint outlines of figures near the arch add life to the architectural focus, with delicate details suggesting window frames and masonry work.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    etching and drypoint in dark brown on laid paper

  • Credit Line

    Rosenwald Collection

  • Accession Number

    1943.3.8654

  • Catalogue Raisonné

    MacDonald 2012, no. 237, state iv/xvii

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Howard Mansfield [1849-1938], New York, (Lugt 1342). Bought on 15 March 1928 by 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.

2003

  • "Whistler and His Circle in Venice", The Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, 2003.

Bibliography

1910

  • Kennedy, Edward G. The Etched Work of Whistler. New York: Grolier Club, 1910, no. 197, iii/ix.

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. 237, state iv/xvii.

Inscriptions

on plate: (butterfly); on tab: butterfly imp / butterfly of 1885/1886; by later hands on verso: C.3373 / C26714

Watermarks

none

Wikidata ID

Q65022072

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