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C. L. Drouet, Sculptor

Impression: Freer Gallery of Art
Freer Gallery of Art
(1889.27)
Number: 35
Date: 1859
Medium: etching and drypoint
Size: 226 x 152 mm
Signed: 'Whistler' at lower right, 'Whistler Maitre Eaufortier' at upper right
Inscribed: '1859.' at lower right; 'Drouet. Sculpteur.' at lower centre
Set/Publication: 'Cancelled Plates', 1879
No. of States: 2
Known impressions: 73
Catalogues: K.55; M.55; T.55; W.53
Impressions taken from this plate  (73)
Whistler dated Drouet, Sculpteur '1859' on the copper plate. He was in Paris between January and May 1859, and again briefly from 5 October.
It is one of several portraits dating from the same year, including Bibi Valentin [34], Bibi Lalouette [33], Z. Astruc, Editor of 'L'Artiste' [36], Whistler with a hat [44], Fumette standing [59], Fumette's Bent Head [58] and Finette [61].
Lochnan suggests that the drypoint portraits were done in 'the autumn of 1859' shortly after Francis Seymour Haden, Sr (1818-1910) began to use the medium successfully. 1 However, Whistler was in Paris for a longer period in the Spring, so that is also possible.

1: Lochnan 1984, p. 102.