Sketch after Cecil Lawson's "Swan and Iris"

Object Details

• Artist

  James McNeill Whistler (1834-1903)

• Description

  An intaglio print of a river scene which is framed by the arch of a bridge across the top left. In the foreground at right is a flowering iris, and behind it, at left, a swan with its wings spread. A river crosses the middle distance and recedes at right. A small boat is by the bank in the center, with several sailing barges beyond it, at right. On the far bank of the river there are trees with two high chimneys behind it.

• Edition/State

  2nd state

• Provenance

  From 1883 to 1919

  Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919), purchased from an unidentified source in 1883 [1]

  From 1920

  Freer Gallery of Art, gift of Charles Lang Freer in 1920 [2]

  Notes:

  [1] According to the Accession List, Collections Management Office, there is no purchase record for this object. See also, Original Whistler List, Etchings, Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives.

  [2] The original deed of Charles Lang Freer's gift was signed in 1906. The collection was received in 1920 upon the completion of the Freer Gallery.

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Previous custodian or owner

  Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919)

• Origin

  United States

• Credit Line

  Gift of Charles Lang Freer

• Type

  Print

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

  There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page.

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1880s

• Name

  Freer, Charles Lang

• Place

  United States

• Topic

  Iris, Charles Lang Freer collection, Art, American Art, Swan, Etching (printing process)

• Culture

  Americans

• Object Type

  Prints