UNIVERSITY of GLASGOW

The copper plate has no maker's mark. It is similar in size to several plates, most of which were made by Hughes & Kimber, including earlier plates (Palaces, Brussels 338 and Court of the Monastery of St. Augustine, Bourges 403), other Dutch subjects (Jews' Quarter, Amsterdam 449 and Zaandam 458), as well as Paris scenes (Rue de la Rochefoucault 434 and Café Corazza, Paris 484).

The plate was cancelled with widely spaced crossed diagonal lines across the whole image. Whistler discussed with Edward Guthrie Kennedy (1849-1932) the possibility of printing one or two impressions from cancelled plates so that prospective buyers could see that no further prints were possible. Whistler's 'secretary' William Bell wrote when Kennedy visited London in June 1891: 'in accordance with his intentions expressed to you the other day, Mr Whistler has already destroyed a great number of the plates in question, and herewith sends you the proofs as an interesting fact of reference - ' 7

Others cancelled at this time, and in the same way, include Little Steps, Chelsea 269, Gates, City, London 280, The Dray Horse 292, Petticoat Lane 299, Salvation Army, Sandwich 319, The Ramparts, Sandwich 324, The Tow-Path 325, Little Nude Figure 330 and possibly Jews' Quarter, Amsterdam 449.

It was in Whistler's studio at his death and was bequeathed to Rosalind Birnie Philip (1873-1958). It was printed at her request in 1931 by Nathaniel Sparks (1880-1956). 8 Miss Philip gave it to the University of Glasgow in 1935.