Featured Original Art from Cartographic Associates - Online Gallery of Antique Maps, Globes and Prints

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Featured Original Art

Rembrandt Prints
400th Anniversary of Rembrandt's Birth

"It is in the contrast of light and dark that art happens" Albert Bierstadt (1830-1902)

10.00 James McNeill Whistler Prints (1834-1903)

James Abbott McNeill Whistler is one of the most renowned figures in the 19th century art world. He began his unique passage through art history after an unsuccessful tour of service with the U.S. Army Military Academy at West Point, followed by service with the United States Coast Survey (1854-1855). It was during this brief experience with the federal government that he acquired an interest in etching, by engraving into copper the government’s maps and charts. At the age of twenty-one he left America never to return. Whistler lived his remaining life alternating between London and Paris. In London he lived at 62 Slone Street with Dr. Seymour Haden, who married his sister and whose children Annie, Seymour and Arthur figure more than once in Whistler’s work. The etchings we offer were impressions taken from 57 engraving plates issued by the Fine Art Society of London in 1879. The prints and engravings were produced in 1922 by Herbert Reiach, Ltd., London. Many of the etchings came from the collection of an Edward G. Kennedy and were first published by the Grolier Club of New York in 1910. The list of prints are both direct impressions [photogravure re-strikes] from the steel engraving plates used in early 20th century printing or early off-set [litho] prints (1922 - 24) as they appeared in "The Etchings of James McNeill Whistler by Campbell Dodgson". Each offering is described with size and noted either re-strike or off-set print. All prints are rated Very Good condition (see our rating criteria on the Home Page); with light tan patina in the coloring, and strong impressions in black ink. The 80 year old prints acquired at auction some years ago, are offered matted (non-ascitic matte) and ready for framing. The prints are an excellent alternative to original impressions that are priced much higher:

Send us an e-mail and ask for a free copy of the story of Whistler’s short U.S. Government career. Be sure to include your mailing address.

“An artist is not paid for his labor but for his vision”,
James Abbott McNeill Whistler

Please click to see our Prints - Books - Photos Section for publications about Whistler.

10.01 Anacapa Island, California, engraved by J. A. Whistler, 1854

Whistler made many drawings while he was a West Point cadet, which he left at the age of twenty, in 1854. In November of that year his father, George Washington Whistler, contacted his friend Senator Jefferson Davis and asked if he could find his son a job in Washington. That same month Whistler was appointed to the U.S. Coast Survey and there he received technical training in engraving. It was during his brief federal employment (1854-1855) that he mastered the tecnique of engraving in copper. He produced two works that came to be known as "Coast Survey No.1 "and "Coast Survey No.2, Anacapa Island". The engraved print we offer is of Anacapa Island and engraved at the neat line is "engraved by J. A. Whistler, J. Young and C.A. Knight". The print, dated 1854 is framed in an appropriate solid wood silver tone frame, under glass with non-asctic matte board, (11.5" x 15.7" w/frame) $260. ($16.50 Shipping/handling/ins.)

10.09 Justice Walk, Chelsea, J. A. Whistler, Plate #89

This finely detailed [re-strike] direct impression (c1924) is in the First State (K.#275). Depicting a street scene in Chelsea England in the late 1880's; there are children at play in front of several row houses with their fenced yards. The engraving plate was in the possession of G. H. Christie family and after 1910 has been in the British Museum. The print measures, from the impression line, approximately (7.0" x 4.8"). Signed in the engraving with the “butterfly”. $230. ($16.50 shipping/handling/ins.) ***SOLD***

10.10 Thames Warehouse, J. A. Whistler, Plate 13

By 1859 Whistler was engaged in his beautiful series of etchings of the Thames. These were first published as a set in 1871. The offering here is the second state dated 1859 and signed in the engraving. This 1922 direct impression from the steel engraving is perhaps the most detailed of the Whistler scenic views (4.3" x 6.3"), $260.00 ( $16.50 shipping/handling/ins) ***SOLD***

10.13 Balcony, Amsterdam, J. A. Whistler, Plate 94

A strong impression (Kennedy Plate #405), third state engraving of this detailed etching from the "Dutch Etchings". Dark tones highlighted by figures on the balcony give an air of deepened thought to the view. Taken from a proof plate in the Kupferstich-Kabinett, Dresden. The Dutch etchings are the most remarkable and most highly finished of Whistler’s work in the etching media. This offering is one from the "Dresden Cabinet", which is the set exhibited by Whistler at the Paris International Exhibition of 1900, after which he sold the set to Dresden. Upon his death in 1903 many of Whistlers remaining works were disbursed in order to settle his debts. From the plate impression marks (4.50" x 7.13") $235.00 offered unframed (framed, gold ornate, with double matte non-ascitic board $295.00, plus ( $16.50 shipping/handling/ins) ***SOLD***

10.14 The Mast, J. A. Whistler, Plate 60

One of the “Venice Set” first published by the Fine Arts Society of London around 1880. This is a direct impression [re-strike] taken from the proof plate, Fifth State, c1923. The plate was originally owned by the James Wordie family. A fine example of Whistler’s dry point ability. The print measures approximately (8.1" x 4.7") $310. ($16.50 shipping/handling/ins.)

10.15 La Marchande de Moutarde, by J. A. Whistler, Plate #8

This is a very fine off-set print (c1923) taken from a publication of Whistler’s work. It demonstrates his command and attention to fine detail in this late 1858 etching. Signed in the print with the notation “Imp. Delatre rae St. Jacques 171". Offered framed in an ornate gold frame with double non-ascitic matte board. The print measures approximately (5.3" x 7.2"). $155. ($10.50 shipping/handling/ins.)

10.16 Billingsgate, by J. A. Whistler, Plate #21

In this rendering our attention is centered on the river craft and rigging rather than on the buildings along the waterfront. This re-strike [photogravure steel plate impression] c1924 is from the “Thames set”, second state (K#47). The print measures approximately (6.7" x 4.9") from the impression marks. $338. ($10.50 shipping / handling / insurance) ***SOLD***

10.17 Becquet, J. A. Whistler, Plate 24

The direct impression [re-strike] c1923 was taken from a steel engraving proof in the British Museum for nearly a century. This is an unusual Whistler etching of Becquet, the fiddler and sculptor in dry point. The print measures approximately (5.1" x 7.0"). $310. ($6.50 shipping/handling/ins.)

10.18 Wheelwright, by J. A. Whistler, Plate #80

The Wheelwright from the Venice Set (Kennedy Set, Plate #233), third state, may indeed be a Venetian subject. This direct impression [re-strike] depicts the wheel shop with men at work laboring on repair of carriage wheels. Within the etching is the butterfly, left center and also outside the etched area. From the impression marks measures approximately (6.75" x 5.25"). $230. ($10.50 shipping/handling/ins.)