UNIVERSITY of GLASGOW

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The Steps, Gray's Inn

Impression: Freer Gallery of Art
Freer Gallery of Art
(1888.17)
Number: 282
Date: 1887
Medium: etching
Size: 67 x 179 mm
Signed: butterfly at upper left
Inscribed: no
Set/Publication: no
No. of States: 1
Known impressions: 7
Catalogues: K.295; M.290
Impressions taken from this plate  (7)
Steps, Gray's Inn probably dates from the summer of 1887, since it shows people sitting on the grass, and trees in full leaf. It is close in size to other etchings dating from 1887 including Dry Docks, Southampton [302] and Flower Market, Brussels [339]. The butterfly signature is consistent with this date.
It is not absolutely certain when it first went on sale: possibly as 'Steps' on 17 November 1887 - but this could possibly have been Little Steps, Chelsea [269] - and certainly as 'Steps Gray's Inn' to H. Wunderlich & Co. on 29 June 1888. 1

1: Whistler to T. McLean, GUW #13016; #13052

The 'Grey's Inn Set' also includes The Long Seats, Gray's Inn [283] and The Hoop (Gray's Inn) [287].