Erith–Evening F1902.168a-c: Curatorial Analysis | Whistler in Watercolor

Maker nationality and date: 1834-1903

Date(s): 1881-1883

Medium: Watercolor on paper

Dimension(s): H x W: 14.5 × 24.1 cm (5 11/16 × 9 1/2 in)

Credit Line: Gift of Charles Lang Freer

Object Number: F1902.168a-c

Production location: England, London, Erith

Theme: Riverview

Signature(s): Unsigned.

Provenance: To 1902
Henry Studdy Theobald (1847-1934), London, to 1902 [1]

From 1902 to 1919
Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919), purchased from Henry Studdy Theobald in 1902 [2]

From 1920
Freer Gallery of Art, gift of Charles Lang Freer in 1920 [3]

Notes:

[1] See Original Whistler List, Purchases from Thoebald, Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives. See also, Voucher No. 1, August 1902, Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives.

[2] See note 1.

[3] The original deed of Charles Lang Freer's gift was signed in 1906. The collection was received in 1920 upon the completion of the Freer Gallery.

Exhibition History: Dowdeswell and Dowdeswell, "Notes"—"Harmonies"—"Nocturnes", May 1884
Galerie Georges Petit, Exposition Internationale de Peinture et de Sculpture, 1887

Selected Curatorial Remarks: 1. Lee Glazer, 2018:
This painting (as well F1902.169) was given away by Whistler to an unnamed "elderly lady" and then reacquired by the artist for his 1884 exhibition "Notes-Harmonies-Nocturnes" at Dowdeswell. He wrote to Walter Dowdeswell in early May 1884:
"Cannot stop now to say more than that among things of I supposed of [sic] no importance I had given away, I trace two water color drawings meant for our Show!!!
"One of a long pier at Southend
"The other a little evening of Erith -
"Smoky "lurid" sky -
"They look ragged enough - and hence mistake - but little beauties in their frames - By chance discovered had been sold to you, happily, by an elderly [lady?] into whose hands they came, so thats all right I hope -
"Here are their frames waiting for them, so do send back at once - and the little sum, five or six pounds you paid for the small collection, we will have to put down to me as one of my charities!"

Selected Published References: 1. Curry: James McNeill Whistler at the Freer Gallery of Art, Pg. 18
Whistler here employs a wet technique that allows his curious mauves, ochres, and blue-greens to blend and melt into one another. He has kept the addition of dryly brushed ship's rigging to a minimum in this scene, which contrasts sailing and steam-driven vessels.
2. "Mr. Whistler's Exhibition." Standard, May 19, 1884
"... and the warm grey sunset of Erith (no. 14)."
3. Kensington News, May 29, 1884
"The colour in 'Erith–Evening' (14) is very good."

Catalogue Raisonne number: M884
MacDonald Catalogue number

Previous owner(s): Henry Studdy Theobald (C.L. Freer source) (1847-1934)
Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919)

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Erith–Evening

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