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The Fur Tippet: Miss Lenoir

Impression: Hunterian Art Gallery
Hunterian Art Gallery
(46952)
Number: 365
Date: 1887
Medium: etching and drypoint
Size: 100 x 69 mm
Signed: butterfly at left
Inscribed: no
Set/Publication: no
No. of States: 1
Known impressions: 6
Catalogues: K.334; M.330
Impressions taken from this plate  (6)

KEYWORD

clothing, dress, fashion, fur, portrait, woman, woman seated.

TITLE

Variations on the title are as follows:


'Fur tippet' (1888, Whistler). 4
'Fur Tippet Miss Lenoir' (1890/1891, Whistler). 5
'Woman Seated' (1899, Frederick Wedmore (1844-1921)). 6
'Miss Lenoir' (1902, Edward Guthrie Kennedy (1849-1932)). 7


'The Fur Tippet: Miss Lenoir' is based on the titles used by Whistler and those preferred by later cataloguers.

4: Whistler to T. M. McLean, [11 February 1888], GUW #13018.

5: List, [1890/1891], GUW #13236.

6: Wedmore 1899[more] (cat. no. 222).

7: Kennedy 1902[more] (cat. no. 309).

DESCRIPTION

A three-quarter length portrait of a seated woman who sits turned a little to the left, but twisting to look slightly to the right. She wears a dark coat, a fur tippet and a hat with a sharply tilted brim, decorated with a tall arrangement of feathers and possibly ribbons.

SITTER

Helen Lenoir (1852-1913). Whistler was in frequent contact with Miss Lenoir, partly because she was business manager for Richard D'Oyly Carte (1844-1901). Whistler was in discussion with them concerning his own paintings, about plans for a lecture tour, and about the decoration of the Savoy Hotel, which was then under construction, and where he etched Savoy Scaffolding 317.

DISCUSSION

Wedmore described it as 'A slight etching of a woman seated - three-quarters length - dressed for walking. About the period of 'The Muff,' but less desirable.' 8 The Muff 131 is a good comparison (though not necessarily more 'desirable'!), showing a lady with a fur trimmed jacket. Their titles emphasize the importance of the dress and hat, fashionable items which are equally prominent in several other prints including A Lady wearing a hat with a feather 118, The Little Hat 366 and The Busby 368 and (in a different way) The Bonnet-Shop 254. A fur tippet or collar appeared in late states of Maud, Standing 169, and fur is also the subject of The Fur Cloak - Mrs Herbert 367.

8: Wedmore 1899[more] (cat. no. 222).