Author Archives: mfmmacdonald

This blog was written by Lilith Charlet, a student of History of Art in the School of Culture and Creative Arts, University of Glasgow, 2020. In 1879, the Fine Art Society of London commissioned Whistler to produce a set of … Continue reading →

The author of this blog is Nora Aubrey, a student in the School of Culture and Creative Arts, University of Glasgow. When Japan opened itself to the West in 1859, convinced by Commodore Matthew C. Perry and his American fleet … Continue reading →

The author of this Blog is Hester Mauduit, a third year Honours student in the School of Culture and Creative Arts, University of Glasgow. Whistler was a polarizing figure: his notoriously flamboyant personality secured him both friends and enemies, admirers … Continue reading →

The author of this blog is Polina Atabekian, a third year honours student in the School of Culture & Creative Arts, University of Glasgow. The lepidopterous monogram of James McNeill Whistler first made its appearance in Variations in Flesh Colour … Continue reading →

In 1850, young James Whistler drew a map of England and gave it to his Aunt Kate in Stonington, Connecticut. It ranges from the Scottish border north of Newcastle to the Channel Islands. It ignores Scotland and the continent of … Continue reading →

Note in Blue and Opal: Jersey (1881, watercolour, Freer Gallery of Art, Gift of Charles Lang Freer, 04.83). This lovely watercolour, with the tiny details of beaches, houses, reflections was painted with exquisite precision, and tints of delicate colour and signed with … Continue reading →

Chelsea Shops, in the Freer Gallery of Art (F1902.149a-b), is now identified as a painting shown at Whistler’s one-man show of ‘Notes’ – ‘Harmonies’ – ‘Nocturnes’ in Messrs Dowdeswell’s galleries in 1884. Whistler kept press-cuttings of the show (these are … Continue reading →

Apologies for the big blog delay, which was caused by the setting up of the Whistler paintings catalogue raisonné website. It is early days yet (we hope to go fully online in 2017), though our website has newly gone online at … Continue reading →

A Paris Model, ca 1895-1899, Oil on canvas, 57.8 x 44.5 (oval) Birnie Philip Collection, The Hunterian, University of Glasgow.   This unfinished canvas is among the most interesting items in the Hunterian’s huge Whistler collection, because it shows the artist … Continue reading →

A small dinner party was held by Whistler on 1 November 1877. This is confirmed by Whistler’s purchase of fresh cod from John S. Charles, a Pimlico fishmonger, on that date. The guests included the architect and surveyor Tom Layland and his wife, … Continue reading →