Shipbuilder's Yard, Liverpool |  Art Institute of Chicago (1938.1932) | |
| Number: | 142 | |
| Date: | 1875 | |
| Medium: | drypoint | |
| Size: | 279 x 152 mm | |
| Signed: | butterfly at left (1-3); redrawn (3-final) | |
| Inscribed: | no | |
| Set/Publication: | 'Cancelled Plates', 1879 | |
| No. of States: | 4 | |
| Known impressions: | 24 | |
| Catalogues: | K.146; M.144; W.121 | |
| Impressions taken from this plate (24) | ||
KEYWORD
man standing, pier, port, quay, river, sailing ship, scaffolding.
TITLE
There are several minor variations in the title, as follows:
'Ship Builders Yard - Liverpool -' (1875, Whistler). 2
'The ship builders yard' (1875, Whistler). 3
'Ship builders yard' (1877, Whistler). 4
'The Little Mast' (1877, Charles Augustus Howell (1840?-1890)). 5
'Shipbuilder's Yard' (1886, Frederick Wedmore (1844-1921)). 6
'Ship-Builder's Yard' (1909, Howard Mansfield (1849-1938)). 7
The title 'Shipbuilders Yard, Liverpool' is clear and descriptive and is derived from Whistler's original title.
'Ship Builders Yard - Liverpool -' (1875, Whistler). 2
'The ship builders yard' (1875, Whistler). 3
'Ship builders yard' (1877, Whistler). 4
'The Little Mast' (1877, Charles Augustus Howell (1840?-1890)). 5
'Shipbuilder's Yard' (1886, Frederick Wedmore (1844-1921)). 6
'Ship-Builder's Yard' (1909, Howard Mansfield (1849-1938)). 7
The title 'Shipbuilders Yard, Liverpool' is clear and descriptive and is derived from Whistler's original title.
2: Written on 
.
3: Whistler to W. C. Alexander, [March/April 1875], GUW #07573.
4: Whistler to Howell, 19 October [1877}, GUW #12735.
5: Howell to JW, 6-15 November 1877, GUW #02178.
6: Wedmore 1886 A (cat. no. 121).
7: Mansfield 1909 (cat. no. 144).
DESCRIPTION
In the foreground, at the extreme right, there is wooden scaffolding, and to left of this, a tall pole. A man stands to left of the pole, on the quayside and another man is faintly indicated sitting behind him, at right. Across a wide reach of water there are tall-masted sailing ships at anchor and shipping in the distance. There are a few clouds in the sky.
SITE
According to James Anderson Rose (1819-1890), the shipyard was Royden's yard in the city of Liverpool, in the county of Cheshire, UK. 8 Liverpool docks were among the biggest and busiest in the country.
8: Rose, James Anderson, Catalogue of a Collection of Etched and Engraved Works by the Best Masters Formed ... by James Anderson Rose ... Including the Most Complete Series of Mr. Whistler's Works Yet Formed ... , Sotheby, Wilkinson & Hodge, sale catalogue, London, 30 June 1876.
DISCUSSION
Earlier dockside views include London scenes such as Millbank [78], and one Liverpool scene, Shipping at Liverpool [100]. Shipbuilders Yard, Liverpool marks a return to such dockyard subjects, which included The Two Ships [143], From Billingsgate [165],
Pickle Herring Wharf [164],
The Tiny Pool [167] and
Free Trade Wharf [171].