UNIVERSITY of GLASGOW

Recto, above; verso, below:

This is one of Whistler's smallest etchings. It bears the maker's oval stamp: 'HUGHES & KIMBER (LIMITED) / MANUFACTURERS / LONDON E.C.' It is close in size to several plates including two landscapes - Dieppe [251] and Little Chelsea (Memorial) [315] - and two figure subjects, Two studies of women's heads [331] and Little Nude Figure [330].

The plate was cancelled with crossed diagonal lines, possibly in 1891. Whistler discussed with Edward Guthrie Kennedy (1849-1932) the possibility of printing one or two impressions from cancelled plates so that prospective buyers could see that no further prints were possible. Whistler's 'secretary' William Bell wrote when Kennedy visited London in June 1891: '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 - ' 8

Others cancelled at this time include Little Steps, Chelsea [269], Gates, City, London [280], The Dray Horse [292], Petticoat Lane [299], Salvation Army, Sandwich [319], The Ramparts, Sandwich [324] and Little Nude Figure [330].

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