Artwork Details
18-1/4 x 30-1/4 in. (canvas) 27-3/4 x 39-7/8 x 3-1/4 in. (framed)
Mark DescriptionInscribed, l.r. with butterfly mark.
Accession NumberGift of the Herron Museum Alliance
CopyrightAmerican Painting and Sculpture 1800-1945
Color PaletteGallery Labels
Gallery Labels
- In his series of nighttime paintings of the Thames, Whistler emulated the restricted palette and spare detail of Japanese prints. He would sit in a boat at night to memorize the quiet river scene, with its subtle shades of color, and then paint it quickly in his studio before the memory faded.
- A friend suggested the term “nocturne”—a short and dreamy musical composition suggestive of night—to describe this kind of painting. Whistler enthusiastically adopted the name.
- Because of the handling and color of some of the surface paint, the authenticity of this painting had previously been brought into question. It was recently accepted by an expert as a true Whistler, albeit one with some touch-ups by another hand.
Exhibition History
Exhibition History
Exhibition Name
Venue
Dates
More Than Red, White and Blue: American Paintings from the Collection
Indianapolis Museum of Art
July 2, 1989 - August 20, 1989
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