James McNeill Whistler, 'Rotherhithe'

James McNeill Whistler, 'Rotherhithe', published as Wapping, Etched 1860, printed and published 1871. Museum no. CAI 139

James McNeill Whistler (1834-1903)
Rotherhithe, published as Wapping
Etched 1860, printed and published 1871

Etching (Kennedy 66, State III, as published in A Series of Sixteen Etchings of Scenes on the Thames, 1871)
Museum no. CAI 139
Bequeathed by Constantine Alexander Ionides

The subject and composition of this important etching are closely related to Wapping (National Gallery of Art, Washington), Whistler's brilliantly innovative oil painting of the same year. He kept the painting secret from rivals such as Courbet for fear that his ideas would be stolen.

James McNeill Whistler, 'Limehouse'

James McNeill Whistler, 'Limehouse', Etched 1859, printed and published 1871. Museum no. CAI 141

James McNeill Whistler (1834-1903)
'Limehouse'
Etched 1859, printed and published 1871

Etching (Kennedy 40, State III, as published in A Series of Sixteen Etchings of Scenes on the Thames, 1871)
Museum no. CAI 141
Bequeathed by Constantine Alexander Ionides

James McNeill Whistler, 'The Pool'

James McNeill Whistler, 'The Pool', Etched 1859, printed and published 1871. Museum no. CAI 142

James McNeill Whistler (1834-1903)
'The Pool'
Etched 1859, printed and published 1871
Etching (Kennedy 43, State IV, as published in A Series of Sixteen Etchings of Scenes on the Thames, 1871)
Museum no. CAI 142
Bequeathed by Constantine Alexander Ionides

James McNeill Whistler,'Thames Warehouses from Thames Tunnel Pier'

James McNeill Whistler,'Thames Warehouses from Thames Tunnel Pier', Etched 1859, printed and published 1871. Museum no. CAI 143

James McNeill Whistler (1834-1903)
Thames Warehouses from Thames Tunnel Pier
Etched 1859, printed and published 1871
Etching (Kennedy 38, State II, as published in A Series of Sixteen Etchings of Scenes on the Thames, 1871)
Museum no. CAI 143
Bequeathed by Constantine Alexander Ionides 
 

James McNeill Whistler, 'The Little Pool'

James McNeill Whistler, 'The Little Pool', Etched 1861, printed and published 1871. Museum no. CAI 148

James McNeill Whistler (1834-1903)
The Little Pool
Etched 1861, printed and published 1871
Etching (Kennedy 74, State VIII, as published in A Series of Sixteen Etchings of Scenes on the Thames, 1871)
Museum no. CAI 148
Bequeathed by Constantine Alexander Ionides

In this daring composition, the two figures to the left are Whistler himself, drawing on a copperplate, and his friend and patron Sergeant Thomas, a rich lawyer who was involved in early plans for the publication of the 'Thames Set' etchings. The image was conceived as an announcement for the series, but the printers mistakenly erased Whistler's original etched lettering.

James McNeill Whistler, 'Thames Police or Wapping Wharf'

James McNeill Whistler, 'Thames Police or Wapping Wharf', Etched 1859, printed and published 1871. Museum no. CAI 149

James McNeill Whistler (1834-1903)
'Thames Police or Wapping Wharf'
Etched 1859, printed and published 1871
Etching (Kennedy 44, State III, as published in A Series of Sixteen Etchings of Scenes on the Thames, 1871)
Museum no. CAI 149
Bequeathed by Constantine Alexander Ionides

As the plate became progressively worn during printing, the original delicate drypoint lines indicating the sky wore away. In later impressions such as this they are barely visible.

James McNeill Whistler, 'The Lime Burner'

James McNeill Whistler, 'The Lime Burner', Etched 1859, printed and published 1871. Museum no. CAI 150

James McNeill Whistler (1834-1903)
'The Lime Burner'
Etched 1859, printed and published 1871

Etching (Kennedy 46, State II, as published in A Series of Sixteen Etchings of Scenes on the Thames, 1871)
Bequeathed by Constantine Alexander Ionides
Museum no. CAI 150

In his etchings Whistler aimed to create the scenes of 'modern life' called for by Baudelaire. To this end, he often introduced the figures of workmen, boatmen or loungers in the foreground of the 'Thames Set' images. Here, however, the figure - 'W. Jones, Lime-burner of Thames Street' - is made the central element, while the view to the river beyond becomes almost incidental.

James McNeill Whistler, 'Eagle Wharf'

James McNeill Whistler, 'Eagle Wharf', Etched 1859, printed and published 1871. Museum no. CAI 151

James McNeill Whistler (1834-1903)
'Eagle Wharf'
Etched 1859, printed and published 1871
Etching (Kennedy 41, only state, as published in A Series of Sixteen Etchings of Scenes on the Thames, 1871)
Museum no. CAI 151
Bequeathed by Constantine Alexander Ionides

'Old Hungerford Bridge', Etched 1861

'Old Hungerford Bridge', Etched 1861, printed and published 1871. Museum no. CAI 152

James McNeill Whistler (1834-1903)
'Old Hungerford Bridge'
Etched 1861, printed and published 1871
Etching (Kennedy 76, State III, as published in A Series of Sixteen Etchings of Scenes on the Thames, 1871)
Museum no. CAI 152
Bequeathed by Constantine Alexander Ionides