Steamboat Fleet, Chelsea |  Freer Gallery of Art (1898.401) | |
| Number: | 155 | |
| Date: | 1875/1877 | |
| Medium: | drypoint | |
| Size: | 139 x 215 mm | |
| Signed: | no | |
| Inscribed: | no | |
| Set/Publication: | 'Cancelled Plates', 1879 | |
| No. of States: | 2 | |
| Known impressions: | 19 | |
| Catalogues: | K.156; M.153; W.223 | |
| Impressions taken from this plate (19) | ||
PUBLICATION
It was published in an album of Cancelled Plates ('Cancelled Set') by The Fine Art Society, London, 1879.
EXHIBITIONS
It was one of the rare drypoints included by Howard Mansfield (1849-1938) in the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893, and was also shown in the exhibition organised by the Caxton Club in Chicago in 1900 (
, ). 10
After Whistler's death, one was shown in the Grolier Club exhibition in New York in 1904, lent by Charles Lang Freer (1856-1919) (). Another impression was lent by Henry Studdy Theobald (1847-1934) to the Whistler Memorial Exhibition in London in 1905 (). 11
, ). 10 After Whistler's death, one was shown in the Grolier Club exhibition in New York in 1904, lent by Charles Lang Freer (1856-1919) (
). Another impression was lent by Henry Studdy Theobald (1847-1934) to the Whistler Memorial Exhibition in London in 1905 (). 11 10: Chicago 1893 (cat. no. 2246); Chicago 1900 (cat. no. 193). See REFERENCES: EXHIBITIONS.
11: New York 1904a (cat. no. 236); London Mem. 1905 (cat. no. 363).
SALES & COLLECTORS
A print called 'Steamboats laid up' was recorded as bought from Whistler by Charles Augustus Howell (1840?-1890) on 9 November 1877 for £2.2.0 (quite a low price), but this could equally have been Steamboats off the Tower [156]. 12
In 1887 Whistler sold two impressions of 'Steam boat fleet Chelsea.' (also listed as 'Steam boats fleet Chelsea') to the London art dealers, Messrs Dowdeswell, for £5.5.0 each. 13 Again, it is not absolutely certain if this was the same drypoint, but in this case it is very likely.
In 1887 Whistler sold two impressions of 'Steam boat fleet Chelsea.' (also listed as 'Steam boats fleet Chelsea') to the London art dealers, Messrs Dowdeswell, for £5.5.0 each. 13 Again, it is not absolutely certain if this was the same drypoint, but in this case it is very likely.
Indeed, it may have been one of the latter that was acquired by Henry Studdy Theobald (1847-1934), who is known to have owned the sole extant impression of the first state. This was signed by Whistler about 1886 (). It was owned later by Howard Mansfield (1849-1938) and Harris G. Whittemore (d. ca 1937).
). It was owned later by Howard Mansfield (1849-1938) and Harris G. Whittemore (d. ca 1937).A second state was acquired by Joshua Hutchinson Hutchinson (ca 1829 - d.1891), and sold at his posthumous sale in 1892 as 'Steamboat's Fleet, Chelsea' when it was bought by Frederick Keppel (1845-1912). (). 14 It too was bought by Mansfield.
). 14 It too was bought by Mansfield.14: Sotheby's, 3 March 1892 (lot 321).
Charles Lang Freer (1856-1919) bought the only other known impression of the second state - a darkly atmospheric drypoint - in 1898 (). He had already, in 1893, acquired one of the cancelled sets including this drypoint ().
). He had already, in 1893, acquired one of the cancelled sets including this drypoint ().