Merton Villa, Chelsea |  Freer Gallery of Art (1888.18) | |
| Number: | 381 | |
| Date: | 1888 | |
| Medium: | etching | |
| Size: | 153 x 230 mm | |
| Signed: | butterfly at left | |
| Inscribed: | 'to Trix - / Merton Villa / Chelsea' at lower left | |
| Set/Publication: | no | |
| No. of States: | 1 | |
| Known impressions: | 2 | |
| Catalogues: | K.277; M.273 | |
| Impressions taken from this plate (2) | ||
TECHNIQUE
Merton Villa, Chelsea was executed in pure etching.
PRINTING
Very few impressions were printed; only three have been recorded. Charles Lang Freer (1856-1919) thought his impression was the first proof; it was printed in black ink on ivory laid paper with the 'PRO PATRIA' watermark (
). However, the artist kept one impression, which was also in black ink, on buff - possibly browned - laid paper (). All are trimmed to the platemark and signed on a tab with the butterfly and 'imp.' to show that Whistler had printed them.
). However, the artist kept one impression, which was also in black ink, on buff - possibly browned - laid paper (). All are trimmed to the platemark and signed on a tab with the butterfly and 'imp.' to show that Whistler had printed them.