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Windsor (Memorial)

Impression: Freer Gallery of Art
Freer Gallery of Art
(1888.7)
Number: 313
Date: 1887
Medium: drypoint
Size: 132 x 96 mm
Signed: butterfly at lower left
Inscribed: no
Set/Publication: no
No. of States: 4
Known impressions: 6
Catalogues: K.329; M.324; W.247
Impressions taken from this plate  (6)

KEYWORD

building, castle, jubilee, landscape, river.

TITLE

Variations on the title are as follows:


'Windsor Memorial' (1887/1888, Whistler). 2
'Windsor - Dry point - Memorial' (1890/1892, Beatrice Whistler (1857-1896)). 3
'Windsor (Memorial)' (1899, Frederick Wedmore (1844-1921)). 4
'Windsor (Where She Lives)' (1905, ISSPG). 5
'Windsor, No. 1' (1909, Howard Mansfield (1849-1938)). 6


This was sometimes paired with a print of a similar subject, Windsor Castle 314, and sometimes with a print of similar size, Little Chelsea (Memorial) 315. When Whistler presented the 'Naval Review Set' to Queen Victoria in 1887; he included a list of etchings starting with 'Chelsea (Memorial)' (Little Chelsea (Memorial) 315) and ending with 'Windsor (Memorial)'. The title 'Windsor (Memorial)' is preferred.

2: List, [1887/1888], GUW #13233.

3: List, [1890/1892], GUW #12715.

4: Wedmore 1899[more] (cat. no. 247).

5: London Mem. 1905 (cat. no. 247).

6: Mansfield 1909[more] (cat. no. 324).

DESCRIPTION

Windsor Castle, with a flag flying from a flag pole above the round tower, as seen from the Thames, is in the top third of the plate. The towers, chapel and other buildings and battlements rise above the trees, behind the boat houses and other small buildings along the river bank. In front of these, a few reflections indicate the broad reach of the river.

SITE

Windsor Castle on the River Thames, up river from London, in the county of Berkshire in England. It was, and is, a royal residence. It was originally built in the 11th century by William the Conqueror after the Norman Conquest and was enlarged, restored and rebuilt over later centuries. Queen Victoria made comparatively minor changes to the palace, and used it as the centre for royal entertainment during her reign.

DISCUSSION

Whistler drew several castles during the following year including Château de Bridoré 409, Château Touraine 410, Château de Verneuil, Touraine 408 and Château d'Amboise 431.