The Two Ships |  National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC (1943.3.8481) | |
| Number: | 143 | |
| Date: | 1875 | |
| Medium: | etching and drypoint | |
| Size: | 207 x 133 mm | |
| Signed: | butterfly at lower left | |
| Inscribed: | no | |
| Set/Publication: | Fine Art Society | |
| No. of States: | 5 | |
| Known impressions: | 17 | |
| Catalogues: | K.148; M.146; W.116 | |
| Impressions taken from this plate (17) | ||
The Two Ships probably dates from 1875. The form of Whistler's butterfly monogram suggests the date.
Frederick Wedmore (1844-1921), and later, Howard Mansfield (1849-1938), confirmed that the etching dates from 1875. 1 It was also listed by Beatrice Whistler (1857-1896), probably using Wedmore's catalogue as the basis, as 'Ships - Two, - 1875'. 2
Related subjects of this date are The Little Forge, Liverpool [141], done in Liverpool, and Steamboats off the Tower [156], Battersea: Early Morning [157] and Steamboat Fleet, Chelsea [155], done in London.
An early impression of The Two Ships in New York Public Library is inscribed in an unknown hand '1873' (
), but this is incorrect.
Related subjects of this date are The Little Forge, Liverpool [141], done in Liverpool, and Steamboats off the Tower [156], Battersea: Early Morning [157] and Steamboat Fleet, Chelsea [155], done in London.
An early impression of The Two Ships in New York Public Library is inscribed in an unknown hand '1873' (
), but this is incorrect.1: Wedmore 1886 A (cat. no.116); Mansfield 1909 (cat. no.146).
2: B. Whistler, [1890/1892], GUW #12715.