Resting |  Freer Gallery of Art (1903.254) | |
| Number: | 111 | |
| Date: | 1873/1874 | |
| Medium: | drypoint | |
| Size: | 127 x 77 mm | |
| Signed: | no | |
| Inscribed: | no | |
| Set/Publication: | no | |
| No. of States: | 1 | |
| Known impressions: | 2 | |
| Catalogues: | K.119; M.119; W.105 | |
| Impressions taken from this plate (2) | ||
Resting probably dates from 1874.
On 5 May 1874 Whistler wrote from 2 Lindsey Houses in Chelsea to Ralph Thomas, Jr (1840-1876):
'You know how great a prisoner I am just now with my work and so I am going to ... ask you to help me ... I want a small plate ready prepared for my new etching - will you get me one - and your brother Percy might prepare it - or Delātre will - ... and perhaps I had better have two - about the size of quarter of this sheet of paper - that is half this page - No that is too large - the size of the envelope - will do exactly ... And can your brother perhaps manage it for me by tomorrow' . 1
The printer's assistants suggested by Whistler were Percy Thomas (1846-1922), and Auguste Delātre (1822-1907). The size indicated would be about 127 x 75 mm. Reading a Book 112, Tatting 130, The Muff 131 and Resting are all close to this size.
This document, and the similarity in size and subjects between Resting and the other small drypoints, helps to confirm the date.