UNIVERSITY of GLASGOW

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Old Battersea Bridge

Impression: Art Institute of Chicago
Art Institute of Chicago
(1934.597)
Number: 188
Date: 1879
Medium: etching and drypoint
Size: 202 x 293 mm
Signed: butterfly at lower right (2-6); replaced with new butterfly (6); replaced again (7)
Inscribed: no
Set/Publication: Fine Art Society, 1879
No. of States: 7
Known impressions: 40
Catalogues: K.177; M.174; W.141
Impressions taken from this plate  (40)
Old Battersea Bridge was etched in August 1879. One rough and battered impression of the first state was annotated by Whistler, 'Trial rub - / cheap! - Aug 3. 1879 -' (Graphic with a link to impression #K1770104). On the same day Whistler printed the next four states; in all he recorded fourteen impressions printed on that day. 1

1: Whistler, List, 3 August 1879, GUW #13008.

The etching was published by the Fine Art Society in August 1879. However, the final state was completed and printed in 1888-1889. The copper plate was cancelled and destroyed on 15 April 1889. 2

2: GUW #01211, #01214, #01219.