Millbank |  Freer Gallery of Art (1898.314) | |
| Number: | 78 | |
| Date: | 1861 | |
| Medium: | etching and drypoint | |
| Size: | 102 x 127 mm | |
| Signed: | 'James Whistler' (in inscription) (1-4); removed (5) | |
| Inscribed: | '1861' at lower left; 'The Works of James Whistler: Etchings and Dry Points, are on View at E. Thomas' .. Publisher / 39. Old Bond Street' at lower right (1-2); 'London.' added (4); erased (5) | |
| Set/Publication: | 'Thames Set', 1871 | |
| No. of States: | 5 | |
| Known impressions: | 67 | |
| Catalogues: | K.71; M.71; T.44; W.67 | |
| Impressions taken from this plate (67) | ||
TECHNIQUE
It was drawn with confident sweeping lines and deeply etched, with drypoint added in the second state.
PRINTING
Most impressions are printed in black ink, on various papers. Early impressions are, for instance, a first state on buff 'antique' (pre-1800) laid paper (
); and second states on dark cream laid paper () and off-white wove (). These are followed by a variety of papers including cream 'antique' laid (); tan () and buff () laid; and some Asian papers - ivory Japan tissue (, ) and light-weight cream Japanese paper ().
); and second states on dark cream laid paper () and off-white wove (). These are followed by a variety of papers including cream 'antique' laid (); tan () and buff () laid; and some Asian papers - ivory Japan tissue (, ) and light-weight cream Japanese paper (). The published edition of the 'Thames Set' (in the fifth state) was mainly printed in black ink on laid papers, a high proportion being on ivory/cream paper with the Beehive watermark () or 'DE ERVEN DE BLAUW' or 'DEDB' (, , , , , , ). Other laid papers include ivory (); as well as cream with a Strasbourg Lily watermark, from a blue-edged ledger (); ivory with watermark 'LIST' (); stiff cream or ivory (, ); 'modern' cream (); 'modern' cream paper with an elaborate watermark, 'M' and 'C' flanking a lion with a shield, dated 'MDCCCXXXVII' (1837, ); pale buff watermarked paper (); and, more unusually, blue/grey laid paper (). Some impressions are on Asian papers including cream Japanese (, ) and ivory Asian laid (). Cancelled impressions are on ivory 'modern' laid paper (, ).
) or 'DE ERVEN DE BLAUW' or 'DEDB' (, , , , , , ). Other laid papers include ivory (); as well as cream with a Strasbourg Lily watermark, from a blue-edged ledger (); ivory with watermark 'LIST' (); stiff cream or ivory (, ); 'modern' cream (); 'modern' cream paper with an elaborate watermark, 'M' and 'C' flanking a lion with a shield, dated 'MDCCCXXXVII' (1837, ); pale buff watermarked paper (); and, more unusually, blue/grey laid paper (). Some impressions are on Asian papers including cream Japanese (, ) and ivory Asian laid (). Cancelled impressions are on ivory 'modern' laid paper (, ).