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The Fleet: Monitors |  Hunterian Art Gallery (46923) | |
| Number: | 306 | |
| Date: | 1887 | |
| Medium: | etching and drypoint | |
| Size: | 143 x 223 mm | |
| Signed: | butterfly at lower left | |
| Inscribed: | no | |
| Set/Publication: | no | |
| No. of States: | 2 | |
| Known impressions: | 12 | |
| Catalogues: | K.318; M.315; W.239 | |
| Impressions taken from this plate (12) | ||
TECHNIQUE
Whistler sketched the warships and the bored spectators with quick, spontaneous strokes of the needle. This is an etching, with almost invisible drypoint additions around one of the masts in the second state.
PRINTING
Whistler printed a few impressions of this etching at a time, carefully wiping the plate and leaving a light skim of ink over the surface to suggest the sea.
The record of printing of the 'Jubilee Set' is unusually full but slightly confusing. Seven impressions of The Fleet: Monitors were printed by 19 August 1887, eight on 23 August; then eleven are noted on 1 September, but it is possible this last number is a record of items in stock rather than additional impressions. A note adds that ten were still in stock on 26 September, plus one in the 'press'. 10 There may be duplication of records here but it is clear that at least fifteen were printed.
10: [18 August - 1 September 1887], GUW #13234.
Stock taking records in Whistler's studio provide partial records of printing and sales. In July 1889 there were three unmounted impressions of The Fleet: Monitors in stock in Whistler's studio. In another list, unfortunately undated, there were six unmounted and two mounted. 11
Whistler seems to have marked some impressions with a code, 'o' and 's.' for instance (
), and possibly another 'o' () but it is not entirely clear whether these were marks indicating quality or selection of some sort.
), and possibly another 'o' () but it is not entirely clear whether these were marks indicating quality or selection of some sort. The impression selected for Queen Victoria was printed in dark brown ink with light print tone on ivory 'antique' (pre-1800) laid paper with the Arms of Amsterdam watermark (, ). It was signed at lower left, below the platemark, with Whistler's butterfly and 'imp.' to show that he had printed it.
, ). It was signed at lower left, below the platemark, with Whistler's butterfly and 'imp.' to show that he had printed it. All other impressions were trimmed to the platemark, and signed on the tab. The '1st Proof' was printed in black ink on watermarked ivory laid paper (). Others are on ivory laid (, ); cream laid 'Pro Patria' paper (); laid with the 'IV' countermark (, ) and ivory 'antique' laid paper marked 'SH' ().
). Others are on ivory laid (, ); cream laid 'Pro Patria' paper (); laid with the 'IV' countermark (, ) and ivory 'antique' laid paper marked 'SH' ().A few impressions are in brown or dark brown ink, one on cream laid paper () and two on 'antique' laid paper with the partial watermark 'C' (, ).
) and two on 'antique' laid paper with the partial watermark 'C' (, ).