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In Focus: New Whistler Acquisition

In Focus: New Whistler Acquisition

Occasionally an exhibition or project at the Museum of Art inspires a member of UMMA's extended community to respond with an important addition to the Museum's collections. This is the case with the exhibition last fall devoted to UMMA's important collection of prints by the American artist James McNeill Whistler. Numerous visitors commented on the richness of UMMA's holdings on view in On Beauty and the Everyday: The Prints of James McNeill Whistler. One such response came from an anonymous UM alumnus who approached the Museum with the idea of acquiring a Whistler print in honor of former UMMA curator and noted international Whistler authority, Nesta Spink. Working with the donor, we located one of Whistler's late lithographs, The Sisters, depicting his wife Beatrix and her sister Ethel, a very private image that was printed by Thomas R. Way in an edition of 50. This delicate work is an impression signed by the artist in pencil and printed shortly thereafter on the antique laid paper that Whistler so prized. In February 2011 the donor traveled to Ann Arbor to be on hand when The Sisters was unveiled to Ms. Spink. The Museum had long wished to acknowledge her contributions to UMMA and we are pleased that the donor shared our desire to honor Ms. Spink with the addition of a fine Whistler print.

Senior Curator of Western Art

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