The Rialto

1880

James McNeill Whistler

Associated Names
James McNeill Whistler

Artist, American, 1834 - 1903

The image is an etching of a bustling city street with tall buildings on either side. A clock tower rises in the middle of the scene. The artist uses fine, linear strokes to depict a lively and detailed scene. The etching is monochromatic, with varying shades of black and sepia on pale paper. Small figures are depicted in the foreground, engaged in various activities. Close to the horizon, the street leads upwards past groups of people.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    etching and drypoint on laid paper

  • Credit Line

    Rosenwald Collection

  • Accession Number

    1946.21.374

  • Catalogue Raisonné

    MacDonald 2012, no. 199, state ii/iii

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

H. Wunderlich & Co., New York (stock no. a 7607, 48775). Lessing Julius Rosenwald [1891-1971], Philadelphia, (Lugt 1760b-c); gift to National Gallery of Art, 1946.  

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. 211, ii/ii.

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. 199, state ii/iii.

Inscriptions

on plate: VENDITA CARNA; on tab: butterly 'imp'; lower left on verso: a 48775 ; 6307 (erased) ; a 7607 (crossed out); others: K211 ii; W181

Watermarks

WW countermark

Wikidata ID

Q65076679

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