Symphony in White, No. III

Image credit: The Henry Barber Trust, The Barber Institute of Fine Arts, University of Birmingham

How you can use this image

 

This image is available to be shared and re-used under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives licence (CC BY-NC-ND).

You can reproduce this image for non-commercial purposes and you are not able to change or modify it in any way.

Wherever you reproduce the image you must attribute the original creators (acknowledge the original artist(s) and the person/organisation that took the photograph of the work) and any other rights holders.

Review our guidance pages which explain how you can reuse images, how to credit an image and how to find more images in the public domain or with a Creative Commons licence available.

Download

Notes

Add or edit a note on this artwork that only you can see. You can find notes again by going to the ‘Notes’ section of your account.

Whistler inscribed a musical title on this canvas to describe a painting of two young women dressed in white. The artist chose the term ‘Symphony’ to emphasise to visitors to the Royal Academy’s exhibition in 1867 that it was purely a study in colour. Whistler felt that Victorian artists were distracted by a love of narrative from their proper artistic concern with form and colour. Details such as the flowers were therefore added only for their decorative qualities. However, because the models are identifiable – the artist’s mistress, Joanna Hiffernan, is to the left – other elements arguably do intrude.

The Barber Institute of Fine Arts

Birmingham

Title

Symphony in White, No. III

Date

1865–1867

Medium

oil on canvas

Measurements

H 51.4 x W 76.9 cm

Accession number

39.24

Acquisition method

purchased, 1939

Work type

Painting

Inscription description

Inscribed, signed and dated: Symphony in White, No. III.- Whistler. 1867- [the figure written over a 5]

Tags

See a tag that’s incorrect or offensive? Challenge it and notify Art UK.

Help improve Art UK. Tag artworks and verify existing tags by joining the Tagger community.

Normally on display at

The Barber Institute of Fine Arts

University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, West Midlands B15 2TS England

This venue is open to the public. Not all artworks are on display. If you want to see a particular artwork, please contact the venue.
View venue