The Lithographs of James McNeill Whistler: A Catalogue Raisonne
Category: Books,Arts & Photography,History & Criticism
The Lithographs of James McNeill Whistler: A Catalogue Raisonne Details
From Publishers Weekly While American expatriate painter and aestheticist James McNeill Whistler (1834-1903) is heralded as a printmaker, that reputation is based on his etchings rather than his lithographs. Indeed, as curator Katharine A. Lochman remarks in this opulent, two-volume, slipcased collection, those familiar with "the subtle and sensuous effects" of Whistler's paintings and the "nuanced precision" of his etchings may find the lithographs "strangely devoid of personality." Whistler himself considered the lithographs "drawings," and many do resemble sketches. Whether this quality suggests that his work was careless or spontaneous is in the eye of the beholder. In the first volume, Stratis and Tedeschi, both of the Art Institute of Chicago, have used new digital technology to ensure accurate reproductions, including useful small plates of relevant works in other media or by other artists. The second volume contains illustrations of watermarks, organized to distinguish the posthumous prints from those made during the artist's lifetime, and an edition of Whistler's extensive correspondence with his lithographic printer, Thomas Way. The first comprehensive collection of Whistler's lithographs to be published this century, this sumptuous, carefully assembled reference work will be of most value to art dealers, collectors and scholars. Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. Read more From Library Journal This magnificent, two-volume boxed edition, whose editors are associated with the Art Institute of Chicago, is a landmark of Whistler scholarship and should be acquired by every library serving the scholarly needs of art patrons, historians, and students. Although one cannot discount the earlier catalogues raisonnes of T.R. Way (1896, 1905) and Mervyn Levy (1975), this definitive edition is incomparable in many respects, including the beautifully crafted essays, the size and quality of the reproductions, and the meticulous scholarly apparatus. Volume 1 is the catalogue raisonne proper, interspersed with period essays contributed by Katherine A. Lochnan, curator of prints and drawings at the Art Gallery of Ontario, who traces the development of Whistler's lithography from the early 1850s through the late 1890s. The volume concludes with a collection of untransferred lithographic drawings and a detailed accession list. Volume 2 contains a collection of some 170 letters exchanged with Whistler's London printers, Thomas Way and T.R. Way, dating roughly from 1878 through 1897. A series of technical essays follows, including a discussion of Whistler's lithographic techniques; a chronology of exhibitions, publications, and sales; notes on important individuals, publications, and galleries; Whistler's choice of paper; watermarks in Whistler's papers; and a compilation of lifetime and posthumous watermarks. A chronology of posthumous printings, concordance, bibliographies, lifetime exhibitions and selected reviews, selected references, and an index conclude this volume. One could hope for little more in such a work. Highly recommended for art collections of public and academic libraries and specialized collections.?P. Steven Thomas, Central Michigan Univ. Lib., Mt. PleasantCopyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. Read more
Reviews
The scholars can have their field day telling you how important this two volume set is - and they are right. That's not the reason why most of us should want to own this, however. Students of Art will learn much about Whistler, his times and the Victorian lithography process. Collectors will be able to tell the "real" lithos from the less valuable copies. The rest of us can enjoy the man, his talent & wit and marvel at his ability to create such beautiful, interesting pictures. For less than the cost of one contemporary print, you get to enjoy them all. If it helps you find one that Whistler pulled, well that's just icing on the cake. The digital transfers are superb and second only to finding one pulled from the original stones. Highly recommended!
