Isle de la Cite, Paris

1859

James McNeill Whistler

Associated Names
James McNeill Whistler

Artist, American, 1834 - 1903

The image shows a cityscape from an elevated point of view overlooking a river. The flowing water is depicted with etched lines. Buildings cluster densely in the city with details like windows and structures. The lines vary, with fine details for buildings and loose strokes for the sky and river. The color palette is monochromatic, using the natural tone of the paper and dark ink for contrast and depth. A pedestrian bridge spans the river, with small figures on it and along the pathway below. The bridges connect the bustling area near us with the urban expanse beyond.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    etching and drypoint in black on wove paper

  • Credit Line

    Gift of John Nichols Estabrook and Dorothy Coogan Estabrook

  • Dimensions

    plate: 20 x 28.8 cm (7 7/8 x 11 5/16 in.)
    sheet: 31.2 x 48.6 cm (12 5/16 x 19 1/8 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1988.20.45

  • Catalogue Raisonné

    MacDonald 2012, no. 63, only state

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

John Waterloo Wilson [1815-1883], Brussels, (Lugt 2581); (Sotheby's, 22 April 1887, lot 196). Bernard Buchanan MacGeorge [1845?-1924], Glasgow, (Lugt 394). ( H. Wunderlich & Co., New York, 1903, stock no. a 42189). John Nichols Estabrook and Dorothy Coogan Estabrook; gift to NGA, 1987.  

Associated Names

Exhibition History

1995

  • Prints by James McNeill Whistler and His Contemporaries, National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1995, as Ile de la Cité, Paris.

Bibliography

1910

  • Kennedy, Edward G. The Etched Work of Whistler. New York: Grolier Club, 1910, no. 60.

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. 63, only state.

Inscriptions

lower left butterfly in graphite; lower left in plate: Whistler.- / Dec.1859. / Paris de la Galerie a Op; by later hand, lower left in graphite: a42189

Markings

John W. Wilson (Lugt 2581)

Wikidata ID

Q74877972

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