The Desk |  British Museum (1907-04-08-2) | |
| Number: | 129 | |
| Date: | 1874/1876 | |
| Medium: | drypoint | |
| Size: | 216 x 139 mm | |
| Signed: | no | |
| Inscribed: | no | |
| Set/Publication: | no | |
| No. of States: | 5 | |
| Known impressions: | 6 | |
| Catalogues: | K.133; M.131; W.104 | |
| Impressions taken from this plate (6) | ||
PUBLICATION
It may have been printed with the intention of publishing it with the 'Cancelled Set' by the Fine Art Society, London, in 1879 (
), but was not actually published with the set.
), but was not actually published with the set.EXHIBITIONS
Only one exhibition is recorded in Whistler's lifetime. An impression was lent by Charles Lang Freer (1856-1919) to the exhibition organised by the Caxton Club in Chicago in 1900 (). 4
After Whistler's death, Freer lent his impression to the Grolier Club in New York in 1904, and one was also shown in the London Memorial Exhibition in London in 1905. 5
). 4 After Whistler's death, Freer lent his impression to the Grolier Club in New York in 1904, and one was also shown in the London Memorial Exhibition in London in 1905. 5
4: Chicago 1900 (cat. no. 98).
5: New York 1904a (cat. no. 111); London Mem. 1905 (cat. no. 104).
SALES & COLLECTORS
It was rare, with only six uncancelled impressions located. Charles Lang Freer (1856-1919) bought an impression from the firm of Max Williams & Co. in 1893 (). Howard Mansfield (1849-1938) owned one, which was sold through A. A. Hahlo & Co., New York, to Harris G. Whittemore (d. ca 1937), and later bought with the Pennell Fund for the Library of Congress, Washington, DC. (). The British Museum acquired a worked proof in 1907 (). Another impression, from the collections of Charles C. Cunningham (1910-1979) and Otto Gerstenberg (1848-1935), went eventually to the National Gallery of Australia ().
). Howard Mansfield (1849-1938) owned one, which was sold through A. A. Hahlo & Co., New York, to Harris G. Whittemore (d. ca 1937), and later bought with the Pennell Fund for the Library of Congress, Washington, DC. (). The British Museum acquired a worked proof in 1907 (). Another impression, from the collections of Charles C. Cunningham (1910-1979) and Otto Gerstenberg (1848-1935), went eventually to the National Gallery of Australia ().