Attributed to J.A.M. Whistler: Untitled (Woman in gown and hat)

James Abbott McNeill Whistler

This drawing, attributed to James Abbott McNeill Whistler, is originally from a Santa Barbara, CA collection.

The drawing was in an antique black wooden frame with a wooden backing with notations on it in black ink which appears to read: “Edith Hewson / (Mrs R… ?) / Sketched by James McNeil Whistler / in Saraton Church / on the fly leaf of Prayer Book”.

The drawing measures, 4-3/16 x 2-5/16" (105 x 56) image and is done in conté crayon on a sheet of cream, western laid paper with chain lines at 2.8 - 3 cm intervals and 8 cm laid lines. The sheet measures 5-2/4 x 3-11/16" (134 x 94) and is adhered to a sheet of illustration board, measuring 5-15/16 x 4-5/8". The drawing is signed “J. M. Whistler” with what appears to be an early attempt at a butterfly, more like a Japanese dragonfly, both in an iron-gall ink.

The drawing has many similarities to a number of drawings in Margaret MacDonald's catalog raisonné of the drawings of Whistler: the pose, the necklace, the drawing of the hair, the sash on the left hip, the hat, the dark background using vertical strokes to create a surround for the dress. It appears Whistler did few drawings in conte crayon (MacDonald.538 and 539 are examples) preferring pencil, ink, pastel and chalk but this was done either in conte or litho crayon and could have been thought of it as possible transfer lithograph.

Similarities can be found in MacDonald 501(figure 1). The figure is done in pencil and pen and ink with a vertical ink wash and number 498 (figure 2) is done in pen and ink with a crosshatch patterning. In this case the dark creates the form within the surround while the other two figures seem to be created by the surround. The next two drawings MacDonald 506 (figure 3) and 507 (figure 4) have faces and hair that seem to be not unlike the drawing offered, ultimately simple yet almost arrogantly sure-handed and not at all hesitant.

Larger jpegs of the drawings, signature, butterfly and backboard will be furnished on request.