Thames Warehouses

Object Details

• Artist

  James McNeill Whistler (1834-1903)

• Edition/State

  5, 2

• Label

  This is one of Whistler's first two etchings of the Thames, completed in early July 1859.

  An etcher often decides to add or subtract lines from a plate after beginning to print from it. When this happens, each distinct version of the print is called a "state." Many of Whistler's prints exist in numerous states.

  Whistler etchings are identified by "K" numbers as assigned in Edward Kennedy's catalogue, The Etched Work of Whistler, (New York: Grolier Club, 1910; and subsequent editions). This print is K38; second state of two.

• Provenance

  Seymour Haden (1818-1910), London [1]

  To 1898

  H. Wunderlich & Co., New York to 1898 [2]

  From 1898 to 1919

  Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919), purchased from H. Wunderlich & Co., through Thomas Wilmer Dewing (1851-1938), in November 1898 [3]

  From 1920

  Freer Gallery of Art, gift of Charles Lang Freer in 1920 [4]

  Notes:

  [1] See Original Whistler List, Etchings, 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

• Exhibition History

  Whistler and the Thames (December 17, 2000 to June 17, 2001)

  Whistler Etchings and Copper Plates (May 15, 1968 to February 22, 1971)

  Centennial Exhibition, East Corridor (February 25, 1956 to July 10, 1958)

• 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

  Print

• Restrictions and Rights

  CC0 - Creative Commons (CC0 1.0)

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1850s

• Name

  Freer, Charles Lang, Haden, Seymour, H. Wunderlich & Co.

• Place

  United States

• Topic

  Charles Lang Freer collection, Boats and boating, Art, American Art, Cities and towns, Rivers, Etching (printing process)

• Culture

  Americans

• Object Type

  Prints