UNIVERSITY of GLASGOW

The Corresponence of James McNeil Whistler
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Hermann Wunderlich, ca 1839- d.1892

Nationality: German/American
Date of Birth: 1839
Place of Birth: Wurtemberg
Date of Death: 1892
Place of Death:

Identity:

Hermann Wunderlich was a New York dealer. His wife Julia (b. ca 1849) was like him from Wurtemberg; their son, Herman (b. 1876) and daughters Eugescia (b. 1878) and Julia (b. 1880) were born in New York.

Life:

The art dealer Edward Guthrie Kennedy worked for Wunderlich in New York. It was through Kennedy that contact was made with Whistler. A large number of Whistler paintings, watercolours, pastels and etchings passed through the hands of the New York firm, including Battersea Reach (YMSM 45), Variations in Flesh Colour and Green: The Balcony (YMSM 56), Whistler in his Studio (YMSM 63), Harmony in Blue and Silver: Trouville (YMSM 64), Nocturne: Black and Gold - The Fire Wheel (YMSM 169), Nocturne in Black and Gold: The Falling Rocket (YMSM 170), Mother of Pearl and Silver: The Andalusian (YMSM 378), Rose et or: La Tulipe (YMSM 418), Harmony in Black: Portrait of Miss Ethel Philip (YMSM 419). In 1883 the company recreated in their galleries at 808 Broadway Arrangement in white & yellow, an exhibition of Whistler's Venice etchings and drypoints held by the Fine Art Society in London earlier that year. The decor and invitations, signed with a butterfly, were designed in imitation of the London show. In March 1889 they held an exhibition of sixty-two of Whistler's oils, pastels and drawings, 'Notes' - 'Harmonies' - 'Nocturnes'. It formed an arrangement in pale pink, with pictures in plain frames against pale pink silk walls and with peach-pink painted furniture and similarly coloured velarium. A brown paper catalogue was issued.

Bibliography:

US 1880 census at http://www.familysearch.org (accessed 2004.03); Wunderlich, H., 'Notes' - 'Harmonies' - 'Nocturnes', New York, 1889; Wunderlich, H., Etchings, Dry points and Lithographs by Whistler: Catalogue, New York, 1898; Kennedy, Edward Guthrie, Catalogue of Etchings by J.McN. Whistler, Compiled by an Amateur, New York, 1902; Wunderlich, H., Catalogue of a Collection of Etchings and Dry Points by Whistler Recently Acquired, New York, 1903; Sheehan, Susan, Arrangement in White and Yellow: A Centennial Celebration, October 18 - November 30, 1983, commemorating the 100th anniversary of Herman Wunderlich's landmark exhibition of James McNeill Whistler's etchings and drypoints, New York, 1983; Young, Andrew McLaren, Margaret F. MacDonald, Robin Spencer and Hamish Miles, The Paintings of James McNeill Whistler, New Haven and London, 1980; MacDonald, Margaret F., James McNeill Whistler. Drawings, Pastels and Watercolours. A Catalogue Raisonné, New Haven and London, 1995.