Etchings Institutions search term: fine art society
The Baby, Gray's Inn |  Freer Gallery of Art (1903.151) | |
| Number: | 288 | |
| Date: | 1887 | |
| Medium: | etching | |
| Size: | 100 x 67 mm | |
| Signed: | butterfly at right | |
| Inscribed: | no | |
| Set/Publication: | no | |
| No. of States: | 1 | |
| Known impressions: | 2 | |
| Catalogues: | K.298; M.295 | |
| Impressions taken from this plate (2) | ||
PUBLICATION
It was not published. However, it forms one of Whistler's unpublished but clearly defined 'Grey's Inn Set'.
EXHIBITIONS
It was rare and very little known. The print dealers H. Wunderlich & Co. in New York exhibited an impression in 1898 and in 1903. 9
After Whistler's death the Grolier Club showed one - probably one of those already exhibited at Wunderlich's - in New York in 1904. 10
After Whistler's death the Grolier Club showed one - probably one of those already exhibited at Wunderlich's - in New York in 1904. 10
9: New York 1898 (cat. no. 202); New York 1903b (cat. no. 207).
10: New York 1904a (cat. no. 310).
SALES & COLLECTORS
'The Babies'
was sold by Whistler on
21 December 1887 to the London print dealer, Thomas M. McLean (b. ca 1832), for £5.5.0. 11 The price seems to have been variable.
The Fine Art Society in London bought an impression of 'Babies'
in 1893 for £3.3.0. 12 It may be that these refer to two different etchings, ot that the original price was too high.
In May 1888 Wunderlich's in New York priced an impression of 'The Baby - Gray's Inn' at £5.5.0 and forwarded it to Ross Revillon Winans (1850-1912). In 1896 they recorded that they had sold one 'Baby - Grays Inn' for £4.4.0 and in 1897, stated that they had one 'on hand', valued at £3.3.0. It is not entirely clear whether they are talking about one or three impressions, but the prices suggest it was not selling very well. 13
In May 1888 Wunderlich's in New York priced an impression of 'The Baby - Gray's Inn' at £5.5.0 and forwarded it to Ross Revillon Winans (1850-1912). In 1896 they recorded that they had sold one 'Baby - Grays Inn' for £4.4.0 and in 1897, stated that they had one 'on hand', valued at £3.3.0. It is not entirely clear whether they are talking about one or three impressions, but the prices suggest it was not selling very well. 13
Charles Lang Freer (1856-1919) bought the only known impression in July 1903 from Obach & Co. in London (
).
).