Agnes |  Freer Gallery of Art (1892.9) | |
| Number: | 146 | |
| Date: | 1875/1878 | |
| Medium: | drypoint | |
| Size: | 229 x 154 mm | |
| Signed: | no | |
| Inscribed: | no | |
| Set/Publication: | 'Cancelled Plates', 1879 | |
| No. of States: | 3 | |
| Known impressions: | 22 | |
| Catalogues: | K.134; M.132; W.106 | |
| Impressions taken from this plate (22) | ||
KEYWORD
portrait, sewing, woman seated.
TITLE
Only one title is known, as in the following examples:
'Agnes' (1883/1885, Whistler). 1
'Agnes' (1886, Frederick Wedmore (1844-1921)). 2
'Agnes' (1883/1885, Whistler). 1
'Agnes' (1886, Frederick Wedmore (1844-1921)). 2
1: Written on .
2: Wedmore 1886 A[more] (cat. no. 106).
DESCRIPTION
A woman sits facing front, her head slightly tilted to right, her hands in her lap. She is either sewing or gathering in the top edge of some material - possibly a bag - in both hands. She wears a close-fitting dark blouse with slightly puffed sleeves, and a light coloured skirt; her hair is dark, cut in a fringe over her forehead. There is shading in the background, about the head.
SITTER
Bridget Agnes Hiffernan (1844/1845-after 1919); she was the sister of Joanna Hiffernan (b. ca 1843). She also appeared in Brushing the Hair 094. She appears to have helped Jo in bringing up Whistler's son Charles James Whistler Hanson (1870-1935). She was also the mistress and later wife of Charles James Singleton, Jr (1841-1918), who was a patron of Whistler's and apparently a close friend.