James Abbott McNeill Whistler American, 1834-1903 Rue des Matelas (Rouen), circa 1858 Inscribed as titled (ll) Graphite pencil on paper 7 1/4 x 4 1/8 inches Provenance: The artist By gift to his niece, Mrs. Charles Thynne Collection of a Gentleman, Paris By descent to his daughter Sale: Christie's, London, Dec. 19, 1972, Acquired by I. D. Gale Estate of Patricia O'C. Abell, 1999 Private collection, New York Sale: Sotheby's, New York, Dec. 1, 2004, Exhibited: London, New Gallery, Memorial Exhibition of the Works of the Late James McNeill Whistler First President of the International Society of Sculptors, Painters, and Gravers, Feb. 22-Apr. 15, 1905, no. 207 New York, Spanierman Gallery, Works on Paper, Nov. 20, 2008-Jan. 3, 2009, pp. 16-17, no. 6, illus. Literature: Margaret F. MacDonald. James McNeill Whistler Drawings, Pastels and Watercolors: A Catalogue Raisonné. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1995, p. 69, no. 225, illus. (as Rue des Matelot) Carol Lowrey and Lisa N. Peters. Works on Paper. Exh. cat. New York: Spanierman Gallery, 2008, pp. 16-17, no. 6, illus. Rue des Matelas was part of the portfolio of drawings Whistler compiled beginning in 1858, in preparation for his "French Set," a collection of etchings with which he sought to establish his reputation in the Parisian avant-garde. In search of subject matter for the portfolio, he toured France, Luxembourg, and the Rhineland, carrying his sketchbooks and etching plates with him. Upholding a Realist stance, he chose his motifs relatively indiscriminately and transcribed his subject matter on the spot. His subject in this drawing is one of the old houses fronting on a narrow alleyway in Rouen. Margaret MacDonald author of the Whistler catalogue raisonné, notes that what makes the scene come alive are the "living lines of ancient buildings" and the selection of just "the right amount of detail." She further states that the composition, with its "rounded figures, sharp outlines and firm accents" looks forward to A Street at Saverne (ca. 1858, Freer Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.), which Whistler drew just a few days later, when he headed east toward Luxembourg. Whistler gave this drawing to his daughter in law Annie Hayden, and it was included in his 1905 memorial exhibition. C The Spanierman Gallery, LLC
Toned. This work is laid down to a second sheet. Repair to the paper in the lower left corner, approximately 1/4 x 1/4 of an inch. Small creases and repairs along all the edges. There is a paper repair in the upper left corner and a diagonal crease in the upper right corner.
James Abbott McNeill Whistler American, 1834-1903 Rue des Matelas (Rouen), circa 1858 Inscribed as titled (ll) Graphite pencil on paper 7 1/4 x 4 1/8 inches Provenance: The artist By gift to his niece, Mrs. Charles Thynne Collection of a Gentleman, Paris By descent to his daughter Sale: Christie's, London, Dec. 19, 1972, Acquired by I. D. Gale Estate of Patricia O'C. Abell, 1999 Private collection, New York Sale: Sotheby's, New York, Dec. 1, 2004, Exhibited: London, New Gallery, Memorial Exhibition of the Works of the Late James McNeill Whistler First President of the International Society of Sculptors, Painters, and Gravers, Feb. 22-Apr. 15, 1905, no. 207 New York, Spanierman Gallery, Works on Paper, Nov. 20, 2008-Jan. 3, 2009, pp. 16-17, no. 6, illus. Literature: Margaret F. MacDonald. James McNeill Whistler Drawings, Pastels and Watercolors: A Catalogue Raisonné. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1995, p. 69, no. 225, illus. (as Rue des Matelot) Carol Lowrey and Lisa N. Peters. Works on Paper. Exh. cat. New York: Spanierman Gallery, 2008, pp. 16-17, no. 6, illus. Rue des Matelas was part of the portfolio of drawings Whistler compiled beginning in 1858, in preparation for his "French Set," a collection of etchings with which he sought to establish his reputation in the Parisian avant-garde. In search of subject matter for the portfolio, he toured France, Luxembourg, and the Rhineland, carrying his sketchbooks and etching plates with him. Upholding a Realist stance, he chose his motifs relatively indiscriminately and transcribed his subject matter on the spot. His subject in this drawing is one of the old houses fronting on a narrow alleyway in Rouen. Margaret MacDonald author of the Whistler catalogue raisonné, notes that what makes the scene come alive are the "living lines of ancient buildings" and the selection of just "the right amount of detail." She further states that the composition, with its "rounded figures, sharp outlines and firm accents" looks forward to A Street at Saverne (ca. 1858, Freer Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.), which Whistler drew just a few days later, when he headed east toward Luxembourg. Whistler gave this drawing to his daughter in law Annie Hayden, and it was included in his 1905 memorial exhibition. C The Spanierman Gallery, LLC
Toned. This work is laid down to a second sheet. Repair to the paper in the lower left corner, approximately 1/4 x 1/4 of an inch. Small creases and repairs along all the edges. There is a paper repair in the upper left corner and a diagonal crease in the upper right corner.
Try LotSearch and its premium features for 7 days - without any costs!
Be notified automatically about new items in upcoming auctions.
Create an alert
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
