UNIVERSITY of GLASGOW

cart, building, city, children, garden, horse, people, square, street, tree.

Whistler's original title is not known. The recorded titles show that both Mansfield and Kennedy got confused, and did not realise that they had catalogued the same etching under two different titles, as follows:


'Street Scene' (1909, Howard Mansfield (1849-1938)). 2
'Fitzroy Square' (1909, Howard Mansfield (1849-1938)). 3
'Street Scene' (1910, Edward Guthrie Kennedy (1849-1932)). 4
'Fitzroy Square' (1910, Edward Guthrie Kennedy (1849-1932)). 5

Kennedy described the 'Street Scene' as 'A street; a large three-storeyed house at the right.' and Mansfield recorded it as 'A view of a street with a large three-storied house at the right.' 6

However, the scene definitely shows Fitzroy Square, so that is the accepted title.

In the foreground is a broad street, with two small children partly sketched in. To right, railings surround gardens with tall bare trees; a few pedestrians are walking round the square. At the far side of the square a road leads off to right, and more iron pailings front a three-storey mansion with arches supported by pilasters round the windows, and a tall pediment and balustrade around the high roof with its tall chimneys. Houses are indicated on the left side of the street, receding into the distance, and there is a horse-drawn cab and a hand-cart near the houses on the left.

Fitzroy Square, London, with Grafton Way to right, leading into the distance, as illustrated above and below. It appears to show the imposing frontage with arched windows at 2 Fitzroy Square, but the porch on the right is no longer there. The centre of the square is a pleasant green and wooded area, surrounded then, as now, with railings.

Photographs © M.F. MacDonald, Whistler Etchings Project, 2010.