Alderney Street
James Abbott McNeill Whistler (1834-1903), Alderney Street, etching, c. 1880-1, signed in pencil with the butterfly on the tab and inscribed “imp” [also with the butterfly in the plate], Kennedy 238, first state (of 2), Glasgow 246, first or third state (of 3) (cf. Margaret F. MacDonald, Grischka Petri, Meg Hausberg, and Joanna Meacock, James McNeill Whistler: The Etchings, a catalogue raisonné, University of Glasgow, 2011) on laid paper, in very good condition, trimmed on the plate mark by the artist except for the tab, 7 x 4 1/4 inches.
Provenance: P & D Colnaghi, with their stock number verso (C5462). We believe this is the impression sold in the Colnaghi Whistler sale (at 14, Old Bond Street, London) November-December, 1971.
Also with the initials AR verso (not in Lugt), and titled in pencil with the additional words: “The rare original.” This has been identified as the writing of Harold James Lean Wright (1885-1961), who was an art historian and print dealer with P. and D. Colnaghi & Co.
The Glasgow Whistler Project identified three impressions of the first state and five impressions of the third state, each printed by Whistler. The second state of Alderney Street was published in the Gazette des Beaux-Arts in April 1881 in a second state, in which the words “Gazette des Beaux-Arts” was printed in the lower edge at left, and “Imp. Cadart.” printed at the right. It was used to illustrate an article on Whistler’s Nocturnes and Etchings by his old friend Theodore Duret. After this the print was removed, and Whistler printed a few more impressions.
A fine impression, printed in brownish ink with a subtle veil of plate tone which is intensified toward the bottom of the composition.
On his return from Venice Whistler lived for a few months on Alderney Street.
on reserve