UNIVERSITY of GLASGOW

Dieppe

Impression: National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC
National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC
(1949.5.265)
Number: 251
Date: 1885
Medium: etching and drypoint
Size: 51 x 83 mm
Signed: butterfly at lower left
Inscribed: no
Set/Publication: no
No. of States: 2
Known impressions: 5
Catalogues: K.246; M.244; W.202
Impressions taken from this plate  (5)
Etching: PK246_01 (plate)
The copper plate bears the maker's oval stamp: 'HUGHES & KIMBER (LIMITED) / MANUFACTURERS / LONDON E.C.' It is close in size to three plates from the same maker, dating from a couple of years later, The Little Cloak [370], Little Maunder's [273] and Little Chelsea (Memorial) [315].

It was cancelled with wide spaced diagonal lines from left to right and vice versa. In 1891 Whistler apparently discussed the limiting of editions and cancellation of his plates with the print dealer Edward Guthrie Kennedy (1849-1932): Whistler's secretary wrote to Kennedy: 'in accordance with his intentions expressed to you the other day, Mr Whistler has already destroyed a great number of the plates in question, and herewith sends you the proofs as an interesting fact of reference - ' 7 This may have been one of those cancelled at that time. Others cancelled in similar fashion include Little Steps, Chelsea [269], The Dray Horse [292], Petticoat Lane [299], Gates, City, London [280], Salvation Army, Sandwich [319], The Ramparts, Sandwich [324], The Tow-Path [325], Little Nude Figure [330], Church, Amsterdam [445] and possibly Nora Quinn [364] and Jews' Quarter, Amsterdam [449].

7: 8 June 1891, GUW #09674.

The plate was in Whistler's studio at his death and was bequeathed to Rosalind Birnie Philip (1873-1958), who gave it to the University of Glasgow in 1935.