UNIVERSITY of GLASGOW

The copper plate has no maker's mark. It is similar in size to The Landing Stage, Cowes 309, Petticoat Lane 299, Doorway, Sandwich 323, Doorway, Gray's Inn 289 and Fish Women, Ostend 349, which date from 1887.

The plate was cancelled with crossed diagonal lines, probably in 1891. Whistler discussed with Edward Guthrie Kennedy (1849-1932) the possibility of printing one or two impressions from cancelled plates so that prospective buyers could see that no further prints were possible. Whistler's 'secretary' William Bell wrote when Kennedy visited London in June 1891:

'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 - ' 9

Others cancelled at this time, and in the same way, include Little Steps, Chelsea 269, Gates, City, London 280, The Dray Horse 292, Salvation Army, Sandwich 319, The Ramparts, Sandwich 324, The Tow-Path 325 and Little Nude Figure 330.

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.