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The Little Venice

Impression: Art Institute of Chicago
Art Institute of Chicago
(1934.570)
Number: 238
Date: 1880
Medium: etching
Size: 185 x 264 mm
Signed: butterfly at lower left
Inscribed: no
Set/Publication: 'First Venice Set', 1880
No. of States: 2
Known impressions: 54
Catalogues: K.183; M.180; W.149
Impressions taken from this plate  (54)
The Little Venice dates from 1880. Whistler was in Venice from September 1879 to November 1880. According to Thomas Robert Way (1861-1913), this copper plate was drawn in Italy but brought back to London to be etched and printed. 1

1: Way 1912[more], p. 45.

Thus it was probably one of the last plates etched in Venice before Whistler's return. Way helped Whistler in printing the copper plates of the first 'Venice Set' for the Fine Art Society, at rooms taken in Air Street, London, late in 1880. The edition was completed and the copper plate was finally cancelled in 1889.
Related Venetian views include Long Venice 211, Long Lagoon 215, The Little Lagoon 216 and Upright Venice 232.