UNIVERSITY of GLASGOW

Recto, above; verso, below:

The copper plate bears the maker's rectangular stamp: 'HUGHES AND KIMBER / MANUFACTURERS / RED LION PASSAGE / FLEET STREET / LONDON'. It is close in size to many other plates of this period including Black Lion Wharf [54], Thames Police [53], Fumette's Bent Head [58], Arthur Haden [66], and Z. Astruc, Editor of 'L'Artiste' [36]. It was cancelled by vigorous crossed diagonal and zigzag lines across the image on the top two thirds of the plate. It was among copper plates cancelled by the time of Whistler's bankruptcy.

In 1872 nine portraits by Whistler were exhibited in J.A. Rose's exhibition of engraved portraits at the opening of the Guildhall Library and Museum (cat. nos. 960-68) described as 'Nine portraits etched in copper - very rare - plates destroyed'. Candidates for these nine portraits include Auguste Delâtre, Printer [28], Whistler with a hat [44], C. L. Drouet, Sculptor [35], Finette [61], Z. Astruc, Editor of 'L'Artiste' [36], Arthur Haden [66], Mr Mann [73] and Axenfeld [68]. Other possibilities include Greenwich Pensioner [40], Bibi Valentin [34], Bibi Lalouette [33], Fumette standing [59], Riault (The Wood Engraver) [69].

The cancelled plate of Whistler with a hat was probably among those bought at Whistler's bankruptcy sale by the Fine Art Society, London. It was published in the set of Cancelled Plates by the F.A.S. in 1879.

The copper plate may have been among those acquired from Robert Dunthorne (b. ca 1851), by Rosalind Birnie Philip (1873-1958), in exchange for lithographs. 13 It was wrapped up, probably by Miss Birnie Philip or another studio assistant, and placed in an envelope, with a trimmed impression of the etching stuck on the front (). The plate was given by her to the University of Glasgow in 1935.