Etchings Institutions search term: hunterian art gallery
The Spanish Balcony: Pigeons |  Whistler Etchings Project (-) | |
| Number: | 407 | |
| Date: | 1888 | |
| Medium: | etching | |
| Size: | 241 x 159 mm | |
| Signed: | butterfly at upper right | |
| Inscribed: | no | |
| Set/Publication: | no | |
| No. of States: | 1 | |
| Known impressions: | 1 | |
| Catalogues: | K.-; M.-; T.-; W.- | |
| Impressions taken from this plate (1) | ||
KEYWORD
balcony, bird, building, café, people.
TITLE
No impressions of this etching have been located, and Whistler's original title is not known with certainty, but the recorded title is probably correct:
'The Spanish Balcony: Pigeons' (1888/1895, possibly Beatrice Whistler (1857-1896)). 1
This title may have been written on the copper plate at Whistler's request by his wife or one of his sisters-in-law, such as Rosalind Birnie Philip (1873-1958). In the current state of the copper plate is is quite hard to make out the pigeons!
'The Spanish Balcony: Pigeons' (1888/1895, possibly Beatrice Whistler (1857-1896)). 1
This title may have been written on the copper plate at Whistler's request by his wife or one of his sisters-in-law, such as Rosalind Birnie Philip (1873-1958). In the current state of the copper plate is is quite hard to make out the pigeons!
1: Inscribed on verso of copper plate, Hunterian Art Gallery.
DESCRIPTION
A deep balcony with a sloping roof extends round the corner of the courtyard of a two-storey house. There are women and children in a window at top right, and on the balcony to right of centre. In front of the balcony, at right, a woman is standing, possibly feeding pigeons. Several people are sitting, possibly in an outdoor cafe, at left.
SITE
Probably done in the Loire valley, in Loches, Tours or Bourges. Whistler did not visit Spain at this time, but the style of balcony may have led to the title.