James Abbott McNeill Whistler. 1834-1903.
The Music Room. 1859. Etching and drypoint. Kennedy 33 ii; Glasgow 39.iv. 5 11/16 x 8 1/2 (sheet 6 5/16 x 9 3/4). Glasgow records 52 known impressions. Good original condition apart from remnants of hings in the lower margin verso and unobtrusive scattered foxing. An exceptionally rich impression printed on antique laid paper. Collector's seals on the verso: Carl Sachs (Lugt 634a; Sammlung WMD(not in Lugt. Provenance: Dr. George Kofas collection, former professor of fine arts; University of Maryland overseas division, as well as a fine arts instructor for the Department of Defense. Unsigned. Housed in an 11 1/2 x 17 1/2-inch gold leaf Victorian-style gold frame. $5,500.
Sir Francis Seymour Haden, the noted surgeon and etcher, and Whistler's brother-in-law, is reading a newspaper on the left. James Reed Traer, Haden's surgical assistant, is in the center. On the right, Dasha, Haden's wife and Whistler's half-sister, is reading by lamplight. The setting is the Hadens' home at 62 Sloan Street, London. Using the press installed at the top of the house, Whistler printed proofs on a wide variety of papers, leaving a varied amount of ink on the surface of the plate. He preferred the darker, more richly-inded impressions.
The Hadens' music room, but with Deborah and Annie at the piano, was the subject of one of Whistler's first two paintings submitted to the Paris Salon in the following year.
Please click on the link to the Glasgow online catalogue raisonné The Music Room.
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