Venus Rising from the Sea

Object Details

• Artist

  James McNeill Whistler (1834-1903)

• Label

  This painting dates to a period in the mid-1860s when Whistler undertook a self-imposed process of artistic reeducation. By borrowing freely from Japanese prints, classical Greek sculpture, and French eighteenth-century rococo painting, he hoped to liberate his art from the chains of narrative realism. The work held special significance for Charles Lang Freer, who acquired it in 1903, shortly after the artist’s death. Later, the collector commissioned a photograph by Alvin Langdon Coburn that showed him comparing this painting with a 12th-century Islamic jar from Raqqa. Freer discerned similarities between the chromatic harmonies of the Venus and the abraded, iridescent surface of the ceramic vessel.

• Provenance

  To 1903

  Thomas Robert Way (1861-1913), London, to 1903 [1]

  From 1903 to 1919

  Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919), purchased from Thomas Robert Way in July 1903 [2]

  From 1920

  Freer Gallery of Art, gift of Charles Lang Freer in 1920 [3]

  Notes:

  [1] According to Curatorial Remark 1 in the object record. See also, Original Whistler List, Paintings, pg. 7, Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives.

  [2] See note 1.

  [3] 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

• Exhibition History

  Ruffled Feathers: Creating Whistler's Peacock Room (July 13, 2024 to January 21, 2027)

  The Power to See Beauty (October 14, 2017 to September 6, 2022)

  Freer & Whistler: Points of Contact (February 23, 2008 to January 3, 2016)

  Art for Art's Sake (July 23, 1997 to January 24, 2008)

  Whistler & Japan (May 14, 1995 to January 1, 1996)

  America Meets Asia at the Freer Gallery of Art (May 9, 1993 to June 2, 1998)

  Arrangement in Yellow and Gold: Paintings by James McNeill Whistler (March 14, 1986 to April 1, 1987)

  James McNeill Whistler at the Freer Gallery of Art—Whistler and the Figure (May 11, 1984 to December 16, 1984)

  American Paintings: James McNeill Whistler 1834-1903 (September 16, 1981 to March 26, 1984)

  American Paintings: James McNeill Whistler (November 11, 1976 to March 18, 1981)

  Portraits and Figure Painting by James McNeill Whistler (October 2, 1972 to May 2, 1973)

  Untitled Exhibition, American Oil Paintings, Gallery 3, 1947 (September 25, 1947 to April 12, 1955)

  Untitled Exhibition, Works of Whistler (September 22, 1947 to April 11, 1955)

  Untitled Exhibition, Whistler Oil Paintings (February 12, 1944 to May 10, 1945)

  American Paintings, J.A.McN. Whistler (May 2, 1923 to February 12, 1944)

  Panama-Pacific International Exposition (February 20 to December 4, 1915)

• Previous custodian or owner

  Thomas Robert Way (1861-1913) (C.L. Freer source)

  Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919)

• Origin

  United States

• Credit Line

  Gift of Charles Lang Freer

• Type

  Painting

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1880s, 1850s

• Name

  Freer, Charles Lang, Way, Thomas Robert

• Place

  United States

• Topic

  Water, Charles Lang Freer collection, Art, American Art, Ocean

• Culture

  Americans

• Object Type

  Paintings