Sketch of Maud

c. 1871/1873

James McNeill Whistler

Associated Names
James McNeill Whistler

Artist, American, 1834 - 1903

The image is a sketch of the upper body of a seated person. The person is slightly turned inward, with their torso facing right. The sketch shows the person's facial features and hair lightly drawn, with the head slightly inclined downward. The hair appears to be tied back. The clothing is suggested by soft lines, indicating a garment draped around the shoulder and torso. There are no visible jewelry or objects being held. An inscription in the bottom left corner reads, "To S.P. Avery, Sunday, June 22, 1873, Whistler S.W." The background is plain, focusing on the sketch on textured paper.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    pen and brown ink on laid paper

  • Credit Line

    Rosenwald Collection

  • Dimensions

    sheet: 17.8 × 11.1 cm (7 × 4 3/8 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1943.3.8822

  • Catalogue Raisonné

    MacDonald 1995, no. 497

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

1921

  • Pennell, E.R., WHISTLER JOURNAL, Philadelphia: 1921, reproduced opposite p.162.

1995

  • MacDonald, Margaret F. James McNeill Whistler: Drawings, Pastels and Watercolours: A Catalogue Raisonné. New Haven, Connecticut: Yale University Press, 1995, no. 497.

Inscriptions

center right butterfly signature; lower left in darker ink: To /S.P. Avery- / Sunday June 22.1873. / Wind S. by J.W.; lower center in pen: 3/4 107(?)12

Markings

Collector's stamps, lower left verso: NGA; Lessing J. Rosenwald

Watermarks

NSON / S72 (partial)

Wikidata ID

Q64580664

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