James Abbott McNeill Whistler

An Arrangement in Grey and Green. Portrait of John James Cowan (1846 - 1936)

About this artwork

Cowan, an Edinburgh paper manufacturer, sat to Whistler for this portait at least sixty times between 1893 and 1900. Even so, Whistler completed only the head, rubbing down the work on Cowan's grey knickerbocker suit as he was dissatisfied with the result. He did not allow Cowan to have the portrait as it was unfinished.

Updated before 2020

  • artist:
  • title:
    An Arrangement in Grey and Green. Portrait of John James Cowan (1846 - 1936)
  • date created:
    Begun 1893
  • materials:
    Oil on canvas
  • measurements:
    95.50 x 51.00 cm; Framed: 117.80 x 73.00 x 6.00 cm
  • object type:
  • credit line:
    Presented by Miss Birnie Philip, associating Mr Cowan's name with the gift 1930
  • accession number:
    NG 1744
  • gallery:
  • artwork photographed by:
    Antonia Reeve
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James Abbott McNeill Whistler

James Abbott McNeill Whistler