Conversation under the Statue, Luxembourg Gardens / James McNeill Whistler

Accession Number

1954/1.438

Title

Conversation under the Statue, Luxembourg Gardens

Artist

James McNeill Whistler

Artist Nationality

American

Artist Life Dates

1834-1903

Medium and Support

transfer lithograph with stumping on laid paper

Object Creation Date

1893

Object Creation Place

North and Central America (continent)

United States (nation)

Creation Place 1

North and Central America (continent)

Creation Place 2

United States (nation)

Credit Line

Bequest of Margaret Watson Parker

Inscription

On the stone, l.r.: Butterfly monogram Signed, in pencil, l.l.: Butterfly monogram Collector's mark: Royal Library, Windsor Castle. Lugt 2535

Dimensions

29 cm x 23.5 cm (11 7/16 in. x 9 1/4 in.)

Century

19th century

Primary Object Classification

Print

Primary Object Type

transfer lithograph

Physical Description

In the lower left corner, two women are seen seated out of doors conversing in a park-like setting. In the middle distance is a large sculpture on a raised pedestal. Grouped around the sculpture are other small gatherings of people in conversation. Behind the figures and sculpture is the loose indication of trees.

Subject Matter

Set in the Luxembourg Gardens of Paris, this scene does not describe the imposing terraces and stairs, but a quiet cul-de-sac where groups of people are quietly talking.

Whistler had considered offering this work for inclusion in "The Art Journal" but there was concern that the softeness of the stump, particularly visible in the trees behind the statue, would not allow for a large edition necessary for the publication.

Primary Keywords

armies

army

chairs

figures

gardens

paris

paris (inhabited place)

seated

sitting

st. jerome

statue

statues

woman

women

Secondary Keywords

armed forces

buildings and the land

europe

europe (continent)

france

france (nation)

furnishings

furnishings by form or function

furniture

furniture by form or function

geographic and political locations

locality

military

objects

objects we use

open spaces

open spaces and site elements

open spaces by form

organizations

people

people (agents)

people and culture

people and occupations

people by gender

physical activities

physical activities by general context

religious figures

saint

sculpture

sculpture by subject type

seating furniture

single seating furniture

ville de paris, dèpartement de (department)

visual works

visual works by medium or technique

œle-de-france (region)

Rights

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Collection

University of Michigan Museum of Art

Image Size

673 x 711

File Size

64 KB

Record

1954/1.438

Link to this Item

https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/musart/x-1954-sl-1.438/1954_1.438.jpg content_copy

In public portfolios

Sociability and social spaces (241)

Manifest

https://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/i/image/api/manifest/musart:1954-SL-1.438:1954_1.438.JPG content_copy