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Beggars

Print
1880 (etched), 1903 (printed)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

In 1879 Whistler was commissioned by the Fine Art Society to make a set of etchings of Venice. This is a printmaking technique in which acid is used to bite lines in a metal plate. These lines are next filled with ink, which is then printed on to paper.

Whistler was one of the first artists to put his pencilled signature to a print. This practice grew up during the second half of the 19th century in order to identify works printed from surfaces made by the artist him- or herself, as opposed to reproductions of works originally created in other media.


Object details

Category
Object type
TitleBeggars (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Etching and drypoint on paper
Brief description
Etching and drypoint by James McNeill Whistler, 'Beggars'; etched 1880, printed 1903. From 'Venice, a Series of Twelve Etchings', first published by the Fine Art Society, London, 1880.
Physical description
Etching and drypoint by James McNeill Whistler, 'Beggars'; etched 1880, printed 1903. From 'Venice, a Series of Twelve Etchings', first published by the Fine Art Society, London, 1880. Also known as 'The First Venice Set'. One of 22 impressions taken after Whistler's death to complete the edition. Inscribed in pencil on the back 'F. Goulding Printer Nov.27 1903'.
Dimensions
  • Plate height: 30.4cm
  • Plate width: 21cm
  • Paper height: 39cm
  • Paper width: 25.5cm
Marks and inscriptions
'F. Goulding Printer Nov.27 1903' (Inscribed in pencil on the back)
Credit line
Acquired from The University of Glasgow Art Collections, The Hunterian Museum, University of Glasgow in 1968
Object history
This is one of twenty-two impressions taken after Whistler's death to complete the edition due to the Fine Art Society. W.159; K.194, 9th state.
Subject depicted
Place depicted
Summary
In 1879 Whistler was commissioned by the Fine Art Society to make a set of etchings of Venice. This is a printmaking technique in which acid is used to bite lines in a metal plate. These lines are next filled with ink, which is then printed on to paper.

Whistler was one of the first artists to put his pencilled signature to a print. This practice grew up during the second half of the 19th century in order to identify works printed from surfaces made by the artist him- or herself, as opposed to reproductions of works originally created in other media.
Associated objects
Bibliographic references
  • Wedmore, Frederick. Whistler's Etchings, A Study and a Catalogue. London: Colnaghi & Co, 1899. No.159.
  • Kennedy, Edward G. The Etched Work of Whistler. San Francisco: Alan Wofsy Fine Arts, 1978. No.194, 9th state.
  • Taken from Departmental Circulation Register 1968
Collection
Accession number
CIRC.636-1968

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Record createdJune 30, 2009
Record URL
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