UNIVERSITY of GLASGOW

The copper plate has no maker's mark. It is similar in size to several plates, most of which were made by Hughes & Kimber, including earlier plates (Palaces, Brussels [338] and Court of the Monastery of St. Augustine, Bourges [403]), other Dutch subjects (Jews' Quarter, Amsterdam [449] and Zaandam [458]), as well as Paris scenes (Rue de la Rochefoucault [434] and Café Corazza, Paris [484]).

The plate was cancelled with widely spaced crossed diagonal lines across the whole image. 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 - ' 7

Others cancelled at this time, and in the same way, include Little Steps, Chelsea [269], Gates, City, London [280], The Dray Horse [292], Petticoat Lane [299], Salvation Army, Sandwich [319], The Ramparts, Sandwich [324], The Tow-Path [325], Little Nude Figure [330] and possibly Jews' Quarter, Amsterdam [449].

It was in Whistler's studio at his death and was bequeathed to Rosalind Birnie Philip (1873-1958). It was printed at her request in 1931 by Nathaniel Sparks (1880-1956). 8 Miss Philip gave it to the University of Glasgow in 1935.