The Velvet Dress (Mrs Leyland) |  Hunterian Art Gallery (46774) | |
| Number: | 120 | |
| Date: | 1873/1874 | |
| Medium: | drypoint | |
| Size: | 232 x 157 mm | |
| Signed: | butterfly at left | |
| Inscribed: | no | |
| Set/Publication: | no | |
| No. of States: | 7 | |
| Known impressions: | 17 | |
| Catalogues: | K.105; M.105; T.76; W.91 | |
| Impressions taken from this plate (17) | ||
PUBLICATION
The Velvet Dress was never published.
EXHIBITIONS
It was first shown as one of several drypoints all called 'Portrait' in Whistler's one-man exhibition in London in 1874, and as a 'Portrait of a Lady' in a touring exhibition of the collection of James Anderson Rose (1819-1890) in the north of England in the same year (
). 10
Samuel Putnam Avery (1822-1904) lent what he called a 'Trial Proof' - a beautiful impression of a late state - to the Union League Club in New York in 1881 (). 11
The different states fascinated collectors, who vied for fine impressions and were generous in lending them - which had didactic, economic, and prestigious benefits for the collectors. Two states were lent by Bryan Lathrop (1844-1916) () and a third by Howard Mansfield (1849-1938) to an exhibition organised by the Caxton Club in Chicago in 1900. 12 Mansfield's impressions have not been located.
). 10 Samuel Putnam Avery (1822-1904) lent what he called a 'Trial Proof' - a beautiful impression of a late state - to the Union League Club in New York in 1881 (
). 11 The different states fascinated collectors, who vied for fine impressions and were generous in lending them - which had didactic, economic, and prestigious benefits for the collectors. Two states were lent by Bryan Lathrop (1844-1916) (
) and a third by Howard Mansfield (1849-1938) to an exhibition organised by the Caxton Club in Chicago in 1900. 12 Mansfield's impressions have not been located.10: London Pall Mall 1874 (cat. nos. 6, 22, 24, 25, 27, 30, 32, 33, 35, 36 or 50); Liverpool 1874 (cat. no. 479).
11: New York 1881 (cat. no. 123). See REFERENCES: EXHIBITIONS.
12: Chicago 1900 (cat. nos. 86, 86a).
Impressions were for sale in exhibitions by print dealers including H. Wunderlich & Co. in New York in 1898 (described as a 'First state') and 1903 ('1st' and '2nd' states), and one at Obach & Co. in London in 1903 (possibly ). 13
). 13 13: See REFERENCES: EXHIBITIONS.
Impressions were then shown in the Memorial Exhibitions after Whistler's death, including three states shown at the Grolier Club in New York in 1904 and three lent by Howard Mansfield (1849-1938) to the Boston Memorial, also in 1904. 14 One was shown in Paris in 1905, one lent by Henry Studdy Theobald (1847-1934) to the London Memorial Exhibition in 1905 (), and another by John Charles Sigismund Day (1826-1908) to an exhibition in Rotterdam in 1906 (). 15
), and another by John Charles Sigismund Day (1826-1908) to an exhibition in Rotterdam in 1906 (). 15 14: New York 1904a (cat. nos. 95, 95b, 95c); Boston 1904 (cat. nos. 72, 73, 74).
15: London Mem. 1905 (cat. no. 91); Rotterdam 1906 (cat. no. 75).
SALES & COLLECTORS
Whistler sold an impression to the London print dealers, Messrs Dowdeswell for £5.5.0 on 28 April 1887. 16 This may have been an impression of the final state, signed by Whistler in 1886 or 1887, which was sold in 1904 by Obach & Co. in London to Charles Lang Freer (1856-1919) for £173.5.0 (). Freer had already, in 1889, bought an impression of the first state from Frederick Keppel & Co. ().
). Freer had already, in 1889, bought an impression of the first state from Frederick Keppel & Co. ().16: GUW #13020.
An impression from the collection of the late Joshua Hutchinson Hutchinson (ca 1829 - d.1891) was sold at Sotheby’s, 3 March 1892 (lot 143) and bought by 'Soames' for the good price of £10.0.0.
Other early collectors included William Cleverly Alexander (1840-1916) (); James Anderson Rose (1819-1890) and Francis Seymour Haden, Sr (1818-1910) () - this was later bought by Freer; John Charles Sigismund Day (1826-1908) (), Samuel Putnam Avery (1822-1904) (); Mortimer Luddington Menpes (1860-1938) (); Bryan Lathrop (1844-1916) (); and Emma Regina Martin (1921-2009) ().
); James Anderson Rose (1819-1890) and Francis Seymour Haden, Sr (1818-1910) () - this was later bought by Freer; John Charles Sigismund Day (1826-1908) (), Samuel Putnam Avery (1822-1904) (); Mortimer Luddington Menpes (1860-1938) (); Bryan Lathrop (1844-1916) (); and Emma Regina Martin (1921-2009) ().