Venus Rising from the Sea

Object Details

Artist

James McNeill Whistler (1834-1903)

Label

This painting dates to a period in the mid-1860s when Whistler undertook a self-imposed process of artistic reeducation. By borrowing freely from Japanese prints, classical Greek sculpture, and French eighteenth-century rococo painting, he hoped to liberate his art from the chains of narrative realism. The work held special significance for Charles Lang Freer, who acquired it in 1903, shortly after the artist’s death. Later, the collector commissioned a photograph by Alvin Langdon Coburn that showed him comparing this painting with a 12th-century Islamic jar from Raqqa. Freer discerned similarities between the chromatic harmonies of the Venus and the abraded, iridescent surface of the ceramic vessel.

Provenance

To 1903

Thomas Robert Way (1861-1913), London, to 1903 [1]

From 1903 to 1919

Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919), purchased from Thomas Robert Way in July 1903 [2]

From 1920

Freer Gallery of Art, gift of Charles Lang Freer in 1920 [3]

Notes:

[1] According to Curatorial Remark 1 in the object record. See also, Original Whistler List, Paintings, pg. 7, Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives.

[2] See note 1.

[3] The original deed of Charles Lang Freer's gift was signed in 1906. The collection was received in 1920 upon the completion of the Freer Gallery.

Collection

Freer Gallery of Art Collection

Exhibition History

Ruffled Feathers: Creating Whistler's Peacock Room (July 13, 2024 to January 21, 2027)

The Power to See Beauty (October 14, 2017 to September 6, 2022)

Freer & Whistler: Points of Contact (February 23, 2008 to January 3, 2016)

Art for Art's Sake (July 23, 1997 to January 24, 2008)

Whistler & Japan (May 14, 1995 to January 1, 1996)

America Meets Asia at the Freer Gallery of Art (May 9, 1993 to June 2, 1998)

Arrangement in Yellow and Gold: Paintings by James McNeill Whistler (March 14, 1986 to April 1, 1987)

James McNeill Whistler at the Freer Gallery of Art—Whistler and the Figure (May 11, 1984 to December 16, 1984)

American Paintings: James McNeill Whistler 1834-1903 (September 16, 1981 to March 26, 1984)

American Paintings: James McNeill Whistler (November 11, 1976 to March 18, 1981)

Portraits and Figure Painting by James McNeill Whistler (October 2, 1972 to May 2, 1973)

Untitled Exhibition, American Oil Paintings, Gallery 3, 1947 (September 25, 1947 to April 12, 1955)

Untitled Exhibition, Works of Whistler (September 22, 1947 to April 11, 1955)

Untitled Exhibition, Whistler Oil Paintings (February 12, 1944 to May 10, 1945)

American Paintings, J.A.McN. Whistler (May 2, 1923 to February 12, 1944)

Panama-Pacific International Exposition (February 20 to December 4, 1915)

Previous custodian or owner

Thomas Robert Way (1861-1913) (C.L. Freer source)

Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919)

Credit Line

Gift of Charles Lang Freer

ca. 1869-1870

Accession Number

F1903.174a-b

Restrictions & Rights

Usage conditions apply

Type

Painting

Medium

Oil on canvas

Dimensions

H x W: 59.8 x 49.1 cm (23 9/16 x 19 5/16 in)

Origin

United States

Related Online Resources

Google Cultural Institute

See more items in

Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Collection

Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery

Topic

water

ocean

United States

American Art

Charles Lang Freer collection

Record ID

fsg_F1903.174a-b

Metadata Usage (text)

Usage conditions apply

GUID (Link to Original Record)

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ye3063ec210-998c-4250-8b27-7e520e2bf3f4