UNIVERSITY of GLASGOW

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Dieppe

Impression: National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC
National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC
(1949.5.265)
Number: 251
Date: 1885
Medium: etching and drypoint
Size: 51 x 83 mm
Signed: butterfly at lower left
Inscribed: no
Set/Publication: no
No. of States: 2
Known impressions: 5
Catalogues: K.246; M.244; W.202
Impressions taken from this plate  (5)
Etching: PK246_01
The copper plate bears the maker's oval stamp: 'HUGHES & KIMBER (LIMITED) / MANUFACTURERS / LONDON E.C.' It is close in size to three plates from the same maker, dating from a couple of years later, The Little Cloak 370, Little Maunder's 273 and Little Chelsea (Memorial) 315.

It was cancelled with wide spaced diagonal lines from left to right and vice versa. In 1891 Whistler apparently discussed the limiting of editions and cancellation of his plates with the print dealer Edward Guthrie Kennedy (1849-1932): Whistler's secretary wrote to Kennedy: 'in accordance with his intentions expressed to you the other day, Mr Whistler has already destroyed a great number of the plates in question, and herewith sends you the proofs as an interesting fact of reference - ' 7 This may have been one of those cancelled at that time. Others cancelled in similar fashion include Little Steps, Chelsea 269, The Dray Horse 292, Petticoat Lane 299, Gates, City, London 280, Salvation Army, Sandwich 319, The Ramparts, Sandwich 324, The Tow-Path 325, Little Nude Figure 330, Church, Amsterdam 445 and possibly Nora Quinn 364 and Jews' Quarter, Amsterdam 449.

7: 8 June 1891, GUW #09674.

The plate was in Whistler's studio at his death and was bequeathed to Rosalind Birnie Philip (1873-1958), who gave it to the University of Glasgow in 1935.