Agnes |  Freer Gallery of Art (1892.9) | |
| Number: | 146 | |
| Date: | 1875/1878 | |
| Medium: | drypoint | |
| Size: | 229 x 154 mm | |
| Signed: | no | |
| Inscribed: | no | |
| Set/Publication: | 'Cancelled Plates', 1879 | |
| No. of States: | 3 | |
| Known impressions: | 22 | |
| Catalogues: | K.134; M.132; W.106 | |
| Impressions taken from this plate (22) | ||
KEYWORD
portrait, sewing, woman seated.
TITLE
Only one title is known, as in the following examples:
'Agnes' (1883/1885, Whistler). 1
'Agnes' (1886, Frederick Wedmore (1844-1921)). 2
'Agnes' (1883/1885, Whistler). 1
'Agnes' (1886, Frederick Wedmore (1844-1921)). 2
1: Written on 
.
2: Wedmore 1886 A (cat. no. 106).
DESCRIPTION
A woman sits facing front, her head slightly tilted to right, her hands in her lap. She is either sewing or gathering in the top edge of some material - possibly a bag - in both hands. She wears a close-fitting dark blouse with slightly puffed sleeves, and a light coloured skirt; her hair is dark, cut in a fringe over her forehead. There is shading in the background, about the head.
SITTER
Bridget Agnes Hiffernan (1844/1845-after 1919); she was the sister of Joanna Hiffernan (b. ca 1843). She also appeared in Brushing the Hair [94]. She appears to have helped Jo in bringing up Whistler's son Charles James Whistler Hanson (1870-1935). She was also the mistress and later wife of Charles James Singleton, Jr (1841-1918), who was a patron of Whistler's and apparently a close friend.