UNIVERSITY of GLASGOW

Agnes

Impression: Freer Gallery of Art
Freer Gallery of Art
(1892.9)
Number: 146
Date: 1875/1878
Medium: drypoint
Size: 229 x 154 mm
Signed: no
Inscribed: no
Set/Publication: 'Cancelled Plates', 1879
No. of States: 3
Known impressions: 22
Catalogues: K.134; M.132; W.106
Impressions taken from this plate  (22)

KEYWORD

portrait, sewing, woman seated.

TITLE

Only one title is known, as in the following examples:

'Agnes' (1883/1885, Whistler). 1
'Agnes' (1886, Frederick Wedmore (1844-1921)). 2

1: Written on Graphic with a link to impression #K1340202.

2: Wedmore 1886 A (cat. no. 106).

DESCRIPTION

A woman sits facing front, her head slightly tilted to right, her hands in her lap. She is either sewing or gathering in the top edge of some material - possibly a bag - in both hands. She wears a close-fitting dark blouse with slightly puffed sleeves, and a light coloured skirt; her hair is dark, cut in a fringe over her forehead. There is shading in the background, about the head.

SITTER

Bridget Agnes Hiffernan (1844/1845-after 1919); she was the sister of Joanna Hiffernan (b. ca 1843). She also appeared in Brushing the Hair [94]. She appears to have helped Jo in bringing up Whistler's son Charles James Whistler Hanson (1870-1935). She was also the mistress and later wife of Charles James Singleton, Jr (1841-1918), who was a patron of Whistler's and apparently a close friend.