Confidences in the Garden

Object Details

• Artist

  James McNeill Whistler (1834-1903)

• Edition/State

  2, 1

• Label

  Whistler's lithograph catches Beatrix Whistler and her sister Ethel Birnie Philip deep in conversation as they stroll in the garden behind 110 rue du Bac. The high walls of the garden separated it from a nearby monastery. Arthur Jerome Eddy, one of Whistler's early biographers, recalled that the garden was often filled with the sounds of church bells and chanting monks.

  Whistler lithographs are identified by "C." numbers as described in The Lithographs of James McNeill Whistler (Chicago: The Art Institute of Chicago, 1998). This print is C.100, one of two impressions. See also F1906.177.

• Provenance

  From 1899 to 1919

  Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919), given by the artist in 1899 [1]

  From 1920

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

  Notes:

  [1] See Original Whistler List, Lithographs, Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives. A note on the back of this lithograph states: "'Confidences.' Given to me by Mr. Whistler, August 1899 [signed] C.L.F." (see Curatorial Remark 1 in the object record). Also, according to Curatorial Remark 2, G.D.G., 1921, in the object record: The above information not having been available at the time the registration was made, the print was given a registration number for 1906, the year of the printed Inventory."

  [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

• Exhibition History

  Whistler in Paris: Lithographs from the Belle Epoque, 1891-1896 (February 21 to August 15, 2004)

• Previous custodian or owner

  James McNeill Whistler (1834-1903) (C.L. Freer source)

  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.

  The information presented on this website may be revised and updated at any time as ongoing research progresses or as otherwise warranted. Pending any such revisions and updates, information on this site may be incomplete or inaccurate or may contain typographical errors. Neither the Smithsonian nor its regents, officers, employees, or agents make any representations about the accuracy, reliability, completeness, or timeliness of the information on the site. Use this site and the information provided on it subject to your own judgment. The National Museum of Asian Art welcomes information that would augment or clarify the ownership history of objects in their collections.

Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1890s

• Name

  Whistler, James McNeill, Freer, Charles Lang

• Place

  United States

• Topic

  Charles Lang Freer collection, Art, American Art, Gardens, Woman

• Culture

  Americans

• Object Type

  Prints