James McNeill Whistler: Etchings
Forthcoming exhibition
Overview
James McNeill Whistler
Fumette, 1858
signed and inscribed 'Imp. Delatre. Rue St. Jacques. 171.' in plate; printed in black ink on wove paper
etching
an impression in the fifth (final) state
6 ½ x 4 ¼ inches (16.3 x 10.9 cm)
Four exhibitions of Whistler’s work were held at The Fine Art Society during his lifetime and many of his etchings were published by us. The first of these etchings were of the Thames bridges, in the late 1870s, when Whistler was trying to recover the losses from the underpayment Peacock Room, his libel suit against Ruskin and the building of The White House, commissioned from E W Godwin. This effort proved inadequate and in 1879 whistler was declared bankrupt. The Fine Art Society advanced him the £150 necessary to take him Venice for three months. He stayed for over a year and it was only with the greatest difficulty that he was persuaded to return. The First Venice Set was exhibited with us in December 1880.
Works
