UNIVERSITY of GLASGOW

Etchings         Institutions search term: grolier club

The Ramparts, Sandwich

Impression: Art Institute of Chicago
Art Institute of Chicago
(1934.591)
Number: 324
Date: 1887
Medium: etching
Size: 128 x 178 mm
Signed: butterfly at lower right
Inscribed: no
Set/Publication: no
No. of States: 1
Known impressions: 4
Catalogues: K.309; M.304
Impressions taken from this plate  (4)

KEYWORD

children, landscape, parasol, people, picnic, ramparts, windmill, woman.

TITLE

Variations on the title are as follows:


'Ramparts, (The)' (1887/1888, Whistler). 1
'Ramparts' (1888, Whistler). 2
'The Ramparts (Sandwich) ' (1889, Whistler). 3
'Ramparts, Sandwich' (1902, Edward Guthrie Kennedy (1849-1932)). 4


'The Ramparts, Sandwich' is based on one of Whistler's titles.

1: List, [1887/1888], GUW #13233.

2: Whistler to T. McLean, [11 February 1888], GUW #13018.

3: List, 18 July 1889, GUW #13235.

4: Kennedy 1902 (cat. no. 274).

DESCRIPTION

An embankment, with bushes growing on it, leads, at far right, to a windmill. On the slope, below a big bush in the centre, four girls are sitting on the left, and a mother and child to right, all - including the baby- wearing hats. Walking on the top of the embankment to left of the same bush, are two women, one under a parasol, the other leading a child. Another group of people are standing by a fence to left of the windmill, in the distance.

SITE

The town of Sandwich, Kent, UK. Sandwich is a mediaeval town, one of the Cinque Ports, and was originally a major port. Now it is two miles from the sea, but still boasts fine old pubs, almshouses, churches, the old town gate and a windmill. At various times Sandwich had at least eight windmills of which the White Mill, built in 1760, still survives: the Black Mill was burnt down about 1910. There was also a Post Mill, the Town Mill and another mill on the Mill wall. A sixth windmill stood in north-west Sandwich, west of the railway. 5

5: Hopkinson 2001 ; see also William Coles Finch, Watermills and Windmills, London 1933, pp. 271-272.