Portrait of Dr. William McNeill Whistler

Description

Born in Massachusetts, James McNeill Whistler lived all of his adult life in Europe, working in artistic centers such as Paris, London, and Venice. Whistler painted this portrait of his brother William in London, where both of them then lived; the artist had established a studio there in 1859. Having served as a medical officer for the Confederate Army, Dr. William McNeill Whistler moved to the city after the Civil War and was a respected physician. Whistler modeled his brother’s face with some degree of detail, yet also employed broad brushstrokes of thinly applied paint to merely suggest the sitter’s dress, which blends into a background of flat color.

Provenance

c. 1873-February 27, 1900, probably William McNeil Whistler, London (gift from the artist); February 27, 1900-unknown, Mrs. William McNeill Whistler, his widow, London. Unknown-October 19, 1918, Burton Mansfield, New Haven, Conneticut; October 19, 1918-January 28, 1919, Vose Galleries, Boston; January 28, 1919-unknown, William T. Cresmer, Chicago. Dates unknown, Anderson Art Galleries, Chicago. Unknown-December 22, 1935, Mrs. Moses J. Wentworth, Chicago; December 22, 1935-June 20, 1958, Mr. and Mrs. John Wentworth, Chicago; June 20, 1958-July 1977, Mrs. John Wentworth, Chicago and Paris; July 1977-November 1, 1977, estate of Mrs. John Wentworth; given to the Art Institute of Chicago.