?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price
Estimate: $ 10,000 - $ 15,000
JAMES A. M. WHISTLER Florence Leyland.
Drypoint printed in black on antique cream laid paper, circa 1873. 212x136 mm; 8 3/8x5 3/8 inches, thread margins. Sixth state (of 9), with the 4 short diagonal lines in the background lower left and with the delicate vertical scratch on the left cheek, before the remodelling of the feet and before the dark, broken outline on the right leg. Partial fleur-de-lys watermark. A superb impression of this scarce print, with strong contrasts and all the fine lines printing clearly.
We have found only 7 other impressions of this point at auction in the past 20 years. The last impression sold at Swann, April 27, 2010, sale 2212, lot 248.
This is a portrait of the youngest daughter of Whistler's patron, Liverpool shipping magnate, F. R. Leyland. Whistler's commission to "harmonize" the design work started by another artist in Leyand's house, which became known as the Peacock Room for its bird motifs, 1876-77, resulted in a dispute over the artist's price for the work and a falling out with his key patron. Kennedy 110.
