Custom House |  Freer Gallery of Art (1903.35) | |
| Number: | 179 | |
| Date: | 1878 | |
| Medium: | etching | |
| Size: | 84 x 190 mm | |
| Signed: | no | |
| Inscribed: | no | |
| Set/Publication: | no | |
| No. of States: | 1 | |
| Known impressions: | 8 | |
| Catalogues: | K.150; M.148; W.128 | |
| Impressions taken from this plate (8) | ||
PUBLICATION
Custom House was not published.
EXHIBITIONS
It was rare, and rarely seen in exhibition. An impression of Custom House from the collection of Francis Seymour Haden, Sr (1818-1910) was on show at H. Wunderlich & Co., New York, in 1898. Another was shown at Wunderlich's in 1903 and bought by Charles Lang Freer (1856-1919) (
). 20
Impressions were also exhibited by Obach & Co. in London in 1903 and, after Whistler's death, in the Whistler Memorial Exhibitions, at the Grolier Club in New York in 1904, and in London in 1905. 21
). 20 Impressions were also exhibited by Obach & Co. in London in 1903 and, after Whistler's death, in the Whistler Memorial Exhibitions, at the Grolier Club in New York in 1904, and in London in 1905. 21
20: New York 1898 (cat. no. 213); New York 1903b (cat. no. 217). see REFERENCES : EXHIBITIONS.
21: London Obach 1903 (cat. no. 105); New York 1904a (cat. no. 132); London Mem. 1905 (cat. no. 300).
SALES & COLLECTORS
Whistler sold directly to several art dealers, such as George Aloysius Lucas (1824-1909) () and Samuel Putnam Avery (1822-1904) () who were both also collectors.
) and Samuel Putnam Avery (1822-1904) () who were both also collectors.On 4 February 1887 Messrs Dowdeswell asked Whistler if they could buy a number of etchings and drypoints that had been listed in Wedmore's catalogue, including '128', which was The White Tower. Three impressions of 'Custom House' were then sold to Dowdeswell's in April of the same year for £6.6.0 each. 22
22: 4 February and 28 April 1887, GUW #00888, #13020; Wedmore 1886 A (cat. no 128).
Whistler also may have targetted artists, such as Arthur Haythorne Studd (1863-1919), who owned a fine, delicate impression that he bequeathed to the British Museum (). Julian Alden Weir (1852-1919) owned an impression that passed later to Lessing Julius Rosenwald (1891-1971), who in his turn gave it to the National Gallery of Art (). Other major collectors who acquired impressions included Bernard Buchanan MacGeorge (1845?-1924), whose good, clear impression was acquired in 1903 by Charles Lang Freer (1856-1919)().
). Julian Alden Weir (1852-1919) owned an impression that passed later to Lessing Julius Rosenwald (1891-1971), who in his turn gave it to the National Gallery of Art (). Other major collectors who acquired impressions included Bernard Buchanan MacGeorge (1845?-1924), whose good, clear impression was acquired in 1903 by Charles Lang Freer (1856-1919)().