James McNeill Whistler 1834-1903

Elizabeth Spencer Hunter Baer (1873-1942), Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania
Elizabeth Spencer Baer Keys (her daughter), Dolling Park, Florida
Private Collection, St. Petersburg, Florida (acquired from the above)

Dr. Margaret MacDonald writes, "It was very interesting to compare the pastel [Blue and Violet II] with the Hunterian Art Gallery's pastel by Whistler called Blue and Violet...The pose is very similar indeed to the Glasgow pastel, and there are areas where Whistler tried out variations in the shape of the arm, for instance.  It is certainly not an exact copy of the pastel (by Whistler or anyone else) but it is a very careful study of the model in almost exactly the same position and outfit.  Although Whistler rarely got this close in doing variations on a pose, there were certain poses that appeared to have obsessed him.  There are other pairs or groups of pastels that form, as you might say, 'families'; in my catalogue raisonné you will see other pairs, such as Draped Nude (M1222) and The Blue Girl (M1223) that are subtle variations on a theme.  The finish on your pastel is quite high, and it is signed with a butterfly, and both style and signature date it to the period of 1888-1892.  This was a period when Whistler was obsessed with drawing, both in lithography and pastel.  Your pastel and the Hunterian's Blue and Violet are highly finished examples of Whistler's work at this time, and were probably intended for exhibition."