Group of four men

Terms of Use
Creative CommonsAt A Glance
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Period
1858 -
Geography
United States -
Material
Pencil on off-white wove paper -
Dimension
H x W: 9 x 11.2 cm (3 9/16 x 4 7/16 in) -
Accession Number
F1898.196 -
EDAN ID
edanmdm:fsg_F1898.196
Object Details
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Artist
James McNeill Whistler (1834-1903) -
Label
The younger man in the center of this composition seems to be holding forth while an older companion, in the cap and neckerchief of a laborer, gives him undivided attention. The figure with a cap is similar to men that appear in Whistler's Rhine river-boat drawings. Braggadocio and beer were significant components of student life. The Pennells reported that once Whistler returned to Paris with tales of his adventures, his artist friends saluted him at the Cafe Moliere with loud songs:Car il n'est pas mort, larifla! fla! fla!Non, c'est qu'il dort.Pour le reveiler, trinquons nos verres!Pour le reveiler, trinquons encore! -
Provenance
Seymour Haden (1818-1910), London [1]To 1898H. Wunderlich & Co., New York to 1898 [2]From 1898 to 1919Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919), purchased from H. Wunderlich & Co., through Thomas Wilmer Dewing (1851-1938), in November 1898 [3]From 1920Freer Gallery of Art, gift of Charles Lang Freer in 1920 [4]Notes:[1] See Original Whistler List, Haden Collection Drawings, pg. 2, Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives.[2] See Voucher No. 20, November 1898, Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives.[3] See note 2.[4] 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
Francis Seymour Haden (1818-1910)H. Wunderlich & Co. (1874-1912) (C.L. Freer source)Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919) -
Origin
United States -
Credit Line
Gift of Charles Lang Freer -
Type
Drawing -
Restrictions and Rights
CC0 - Creative Commons (CC0 1.0)
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