Nocturne: Salute

1879/1880

James McNeill Whistler

Associated Names
James McNeill Whistler

Artist, American, 1834 - 1903

The image shows a calm body of water with a high horizon line revealing a distant landmass or city. The drawing features delicate lines, creating an unfinished or ethereal look. Horizontal lines suggest gentle ripples in the water. Near the right side, an indistinct shape resembling a rowing boat is visible. The color palette consists of muted sepia tones, evoking a sense of nostalgia.

Media Options

This object’s media is free and in the public domain. Read our full Open Access policy for images.
Not on view See artworks now on view

Artwork overview

  • Medium

    etching and drypoint in brown on laid paper

  • Credit Line

    Rosenwald Collection

  • Dimensions

    overall (trimmed to plate): 15.3 x 22.7 cm (6 x 8 15/16 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1949.5.32

  • Catalogue Raisonné

    MacDonald 2012, no. 203, state viii/x

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Seaman. Stanhope Forbes [1857-1947]. (H. Wunderlich & Co., New York, stock no. a 91414). Lessing Julius Rosenwald [1891-1971], Philadelphia; gift to NGA, 1949.  

Associated Names

Exhibition History

1969

  • The Prints of James McNeill Whistler, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Artmobile, 1969-1970.

2005

  • "Whistler - Music", Institut Valencià d'Art Modern, Valencia, 2005.

Bibliography

1910

  • Kennedy, Edward G. The Etched Work of Whistler. New York: Grolier Club, 1910, no. 226, v/v.

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. 203, state viii/x.

Inscriptions

lower left in plate: artist's monogram

Watermarks

none

Wikidata ID

Q65076780

You may be interested in

Loading Results