James Abbott McNeill Whistler (AMERICAN, 1834-1903)
The Menpes Children
Etching printed in brownish black on cream laid paper
circa 1900
Edition of 500
Dimensions: 2 3/4 x 4 inches (6 1/2 x 10 cm)
From the deluxe edition of Mortimer Menpes, Whistler as I Knew Him
Kennedy 261; Glasgow 291
Minor mat burn outside of the image in the margins
A record value for this print can be found at Swann Galleries for $1,600
Contact department for full condition report

This print, an energetic and skilled sketch, was made in 1900. It depicts three of the children of Mortimer and Rosa Menpes, who lived in Fulham, London, and an unidentified fourth child. The Menpes family had a detached studio in the garden where it is said Menpes helped Whistler print his famous Venice etchings. This sketch was likely made in that garden.

Although there is minor mat burn outside of the image in the margins, it is otherwise in good condition. The piece is unsigned and part of an edition of 500. The dimensions are 2 ¾ x 5 in.

James A. M. Whistler (AMERICAN, 1834-1903)

James Whistler was born in 1834 in Lowell, Massachusetts. At a young age, Whistler was taken to Russia where he enrolled at the Imperial Academy of Fine Arts. Whistler, however, did not pursue a career in art until he was dismissed from the United States Military Academy and had several failed jobs in the U.S. military. In 1955, Whistler moved to France, where he was introduced to artists such as Gustave Courbet and Edouard Manet. Whistler’s first works were highly influenced by realism. After a trip to Chile, he composed his famous nocturnes. He also began to rename many of his pieces with musical names. In addition to his paintings, Whistler also produced a number of lithographs and etchings.