UNIVERSITY of GLASGOW

It was published in Venice, a Series of Twelve Etchings (the 'First Venice Set') by the Fine Art Society, London, in 1880.

In January 1883 the F.A.S. paid Whistler £105 for the 339 impressions delivered by then (1881-82). 13 In the first half of 1883 Whistler printed 60 impressions of the 'First Venice Set' and other Venice plates at £5.5.0 per dozen. The F.A.S. paid on 9 August 1883. 14 Printing of this etching was completed in 1889.

It was first exhibited at the Fine Art Society in London in 1880, and again by them in 1883 and 1892. 15 In 1880, the British Architect described the 'plain straightforward etching, the delicate parts being obtained by careful biting.' 16 Another reviewer commented: '"The Piazetta" and "The Venetian Mast" are striking examples of the artist's graphic powers of realisation; the figures as well as the architectural features of the scenes are indicated with an assured mastery of touch that could scarcely be surpassed.' 17 Philip Gilbert Hamerton (1834-1894), however, was somewhat dismissive of the etching, commenting:
'The Mast and the Little Mast are dependent for much of their interest, on the drawing of festoons of cord hanging from unequal heights.' Whistler quoted this excerpt in the catalogue for a second Venice etching exhibition in 1883, adding the marginal 'Reflection' : 'At the service of critics of unequal sizes.' 18

The 'First Venice Set' was widely exhibited. Impressions of this etching were shown at the Nationgalerie, Berlin (), at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in 1881, and, lent by Samuel Putnam Avery (1822-1904), among views of Venice at the Union League Club in New York in 1881 (). 19

It appeared in print dealer's shows, at Dunthorne's in London in 1890, at H. Wunderlich & Co. in New York in 1898 (possibly , ) and 1903, Obach & Co. in London in 1903, and an impression from the collection of William George Rawlinson (1840-1928) was shown by F. Keppel & Co. in New York in 1904. 20

It was not shown at the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893 because, as Howard Mansfield (1849-1938) explained, 'there were no frames of the right size for "Finette" or "The Mast", or "Cameo No. 1"'. 21 However, an impression was lent by Bryan Lathrop (1844-1916) to the show organised by the Caxton Club in Chicago in 1900 (). 22 One was shown at the Glasgow International Exhibition of 1901, lent by James Cox-Cox (ca 1849- d.1901), and perhaps the same one at the Royal Scottish Academy in 1904. 23

Other impressions were shown at the Whistler Memorial Exhibitions in Boston in 1904, lent by Howard Mansfield; at the Grolier Club in New York in 1904; in Paris and London in 1905, and, lent by Rosalind Birnie Philip (1873-1958), Rotterdam in 1906 (). 24

Otto Henry Bacher (1856-1909) acquired a very early impression, printed in Venice (). Most impressions were sold by the Fine Art Society, or to print dealers, possibly on commission from the F.A.S. Alphonse Wyatt Thibaudeau (ca 1840- d.1892), for instance, sold a set of etchings in 1882 including 'Strasse in Venedig' to the Kupferstichkabinett Berlin (). 25 Isabella Stewart Gardner (1840-1924) bought a set including this etching from H. Wunderlich & Co. in 1890 ().

British collectors included Henry Studdy Theobald (1847-1934) () and Arthur Haythorne Studd (1863-1919), who bequeathed his impression to the British Museum (). An impression from the collection of the late Joshua Hutchinson Hutchinson (ca 1829 - d.1891) was sold at Sotheby’s 3 March 1892 (lot 255) and bought by Thomas Way (1837-1915) for £2.5.0, but has not been identified.

Whistler was allowed to sell his 'printer's proofs' of different states. He sold an impression of 'The Mast' to South Kensington Museum on 2 July 1890 for £8.8.0, but they returned it on 21 August (they only kept four of the 19 etchings sent). 26 He sent a 'proof' to the F.A.S. for Durand Ruel's in 1893. 27 In the summer of 1893 H. Wunderlich & Co. bought an impression of 'The mast', valued at £5.5.0. 28 Whistler also sold an impression to Robert Dunthorne (b. ca 1851) on 24 December 1902 for a much higher price (Christmas rates?) - £12.12.0. 29

Charles Lang Freer (1856-1919) bought impressions from H. Wunderlich & Co. in 1898 (, ), from Frederick Keppel & Co. in 1894 () and 1902 (), and a later state from E. Gottschalk (dates unknown) in 1908 (). Other American collectors included Samuel Putnam Avery (1822-1904), who owned it by 1881 (); Bryan Lathrop (1844-1916), who owned one by 1900 (); J.L Claghorn (d. 1882) (); Henry Clay Frick (1849-1919) () and Margaret Selkirk Watson Parker (1867-1936) ().