Palaces, Brussels. 1887. Etching and drypoint. Kennedy 361.i/ii; Glasgow 338.i/ii. Kennedy's and Glasgow's first state (of 2), before the additional work under the balcony at left. 8 7/8 x 5 7/8 (image and sheet). Brussels Set, #7. There was no published edition of this rare image. Glasgow lists 16 known impressions, 15 of which are in museums. An extremely rich impression with drypoint burr printed by Whistler on Pro Patria laid paper. Provenance: R.E. Lewis, Inc., Bonhams. Monogrammed with the butterfly in the plate, upper left; signed with the butterfly in pencil on the tab. Housed in an elaborate 18 x 15-inch antique gold fleaf rame. Price upon application.
The composition is complete in this state. State 2 has additional shading "is added on the window panes, under the balcony and at the top of the doorway of the house at left, as well as on a second-storey pilaster between the left and central house, and on a number of window panes on the central house."
The Brussels Set of 13 etchings and drypoints "...focusses on the Grand'Place, the central square in Brussels, with delicate, detailed and decorative images of the façades of the magnificent buildings there...."
According to the Glasgow website, "The Grand'Place in Brussels, the capital city of Belgium. The etching shows a group of buildings on the west side of the Grand'Place: in the centre 'Le Cornet' (no. 6) of 1696, designed by the ebeniste Antoine Pastorama, flanked by 'Le Renard' (no. 7) of 1699 and 'La Louve' (or 'de Wolf', no. 5) also of 1699, designed by Pierre Herbosch. The pediment of 'La Louve' was renovated in 1890-1892.
