UNIVERSITY of GLASGOW

arch, boat, bridge, building, canal, figure, gondola.

Variations in the title are as follows:


'Stables' (1883, Fine Art Society). 1
'Stables' (1899, Frederick Wedmore (1844-1921)). 2
'Stables - Venice' (1890/1892, Beatrice Whistler (1857-1896)). 3
'The Stables' (1900, Caxton Club). 4
'The Little Archway; Venice' (1903/1935, possibly Rosalind Birnie Philip (1873-1958)). 5


The original title, 'Stables' is preferred. It refers to the broad arched entrance where boats are tethered, like horses. Miss Birnie Philip's title is descriptive but does not appear in any of Whistler's records.

A view along a canal and under an arched bridge to the corner where two buildings meet. There are figures on the left by the side of the canal and in a boat, and in a dark archway that dominates the centre of the scene. A man stands in the prow or just behind a boat moored in front of the broad arched entrance. At the back left of the dark interior is a narrow many-paned window. To left of the entrance is a closed arched window with a semicircular lunette; shuttered windows appear above. To right, nearer the viewer, is another arched doorway, with steps down to the canal.

'Stables', 2005.
Photograph©M.F. MacDonald, Whistler Etchings Project.

The city of Venice, Italy. Grieve suggested that this is the basin in front of the Palazzo Soranzo where the Rio de Palazzo and Rio San Zulian meet. It is in the area behind San Marco, which Whistler explored by gondola. 6 This view, drawn accurately on the copper plate, is reversed, as usual, in the print.