Man in an arbour: Portrait of E.G. Kennedy |  () | |
| Number: | 468 | |
| Date: | 1892 | |
| Medium: | etching (?) | |
| Size: | unknown mm | |
| Signed: | unknown | |
| Inscribed: | unknown | |
| Set/Publication: | no | |
| No. of States: | 1 | |
| Known impressions: | 0 | |
| Catalogues: | K.-; M.-; T.-; W.- | |
| Impressions taken from this plate (0) | ||
Man in an arbour: E. G. Kennedy dates from between late June and early July 1892.
The idea of doing a portrait of Edward Guthrie Kennedy (1849-1932) was first mooted in June 1892, when Whistler wrote:
'We are delighted with you! - we know you to be angel, and grand Seigneur - which is rarer! - and shall consider it an honour to grave upon copper our best presentment of such a Preux Chevalier and dear good fellow! -
' 1
1: Whistler to Kennedy, [17 June 1892], GUW #09684.
Kennedy wrote from New York concerning his plans:
'As to going to Paris, if you think you would care to do the copper when I am there, or when I can go there, I would, of course, go out of my way, only I should have to have your assurance that you would feel like doing the Copper when I was there, for I find that it is not necessary to return to Paris, so I am going to Berlin and will return by way of Paris if that will suit you.
/ ... To return to the portrait on copper, time is valuable to me & I shall be glad if one day will be enough, as no doubt it will.
/ It may be of use too in the future, as it ought to be the correct thing to have a portrait etched by Whistler.
/ I should like a dry point in the old style; however I am in your hands.'
2
2: [19 June 1892], GUW #07194.
Whistler's wife responded,
'Jimmy ... says he will, of course, do the etching or dry point as you think best, and will try and do it in a day, if you dont frighten him too much - He is already getting his hand in, for he is doing a portrait of a very distinguished man - a poet'. 3
3: [21 June 1892], GUW #09686.
The poet was Stéphane Mallarmé (1842-1898), who posed for Stéphane Mallarmé [462]. The next day Whistler confirmed that 'I shall be delighted to do the portrait - Etching or Dry Point -
'. 4 As Kennedy noted years later: 'The portrait mentioned was to be a drawing or etching of myself, in 'slight recognition' of giving him a picture from the Cavafy lot for himself.' 5 Kennedy had been encouraged by Whistler to buy several paintings from Dr John Cavafy (ca 1839-1901), son of G. J. Cavafy, and in recompense, Kennedy returned Harmony in Blue and Silver: Trouville [y064] to the artist.
4: Whistler to Kennedy, [22 June 1892] , GUW #09687.
5: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Pennell-Whistler Collection, PWC12/39.
Kennedy posed in Paris at some time in the last week of June and left for London on 4 July 1892. When he returned to Paris, by 20 July, he was 'hoping that at your convenience, I may get a look at the man in the garden'. 6 However although Whistler etched the plate, he had still not printed it a month later:
6: 9 July 1892, GUW #07197.
'Yours is bitten in - and it looks extremely well on the plate - but it has not been printed yet - but as the press is up and the studio finished you may expect the first proof very soon -
/ ... PS. Jimmy says I mustn't be too enthusiastic about your portrait, because he is not by any means contented with it!!' 7
7: Beatrice Whistler to Kennedy, 12 August 1892, GUW #09829.
Although Kennedy tried intermittently to get Whistler to complete the portrait, it appears that Whistler abandoned or destroyed it.