John Scarlett Davis

After Velasquez, The Infanta Margarita, in the Louvre

1831

Image released under Creative Commons CC-BY-NC-ND (3.0 Unported)

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In Tate Britain

Prints and Drawings Room

View by appointment
Artist
John Scarlett Davis 1804–1845
Medium
Graphite on paper
Dimensions
Support: 139 × 112 mm
Collection
Tate
Acquisition
Purchased as part of the Oppé Collection with assistance from the National Lottery through the Heritage Lottery Fund 1996
Reference
T10571

Display caption

Whereas many painters in this room sought to emphasise the drama and commotion of the city, in this painting of the Thames looking towards Chelsea, Whistler creates an almost abstract atmosphere of tranquillity. This is the first of a series of paintings by him titled Nocturnes, which presented night-time scenes along the Thames. Whistler wanted his paintings to be interpreted as objects of pure beauty, without narrative or anecdotal content.

Gallery label, August 2004

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