Rotherhithe, 1860
James Abbott McNeill Whistlerexpand_more
Etchingexpand_more
The William M. Ladd Collection Gift of Herschel V. Jones, 1916expand_more P.4,549
Not on Viewexpand_more
In the fall of 1859, James McNeill Whistler took as his subject the banks of the River Thames in London. At that time, the river was not unlike a cesspool passing through the heart of the city. People feared disease from the polluted water, and workers regularly poured large quantities of lime into the river to control the stench. The area attracted a dangerous crowd, and "decent" people did not venture there. Despite these conditions, Whistler chose to live beside the river among the laborers and dockworkers. Shortly after he created the sixteen etchings of his Thames Set, reforms swept through the area; by the time his etchings were published in 1871, many of the scenes had been altered and are virtually unrecognizable today.
Details
- Title
- Rotherhithe
- Artist Life
- 1834–1903
- Role
- Artist
- Accession Number
- P.4,549
- Provenance
- (Kennedy Galleries, New York). William M. Ladd (1855-1931, Portland, Ore.), by 1916; Herschel V. Jones (1861-1928, Minneapolis), until 1916; given to MIA..
- Catalogue Raisonne
- K.66 iii/iii, L.70
- Curator Approved
This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.
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