Documents associated with: [Exhibition], Morgan's Gallery, Berners Street, London, 1862
Record 1 of 7
System Number: 04325
Date: 29 July 1855
Author: William Learned Marcy[1]
Place: Washington
Recipient: JW
Place: [Washington]
Repository: Glasgow University Library
Call Number: MS Whistler NB 10
Document Type: MsD (Passport)[2]
Rejected at the Academy[3]
Whistler
[Decorative engraving of bald eagle and stars surrounded by:] UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
To all to whom these Presents shall come Greeting
No. 9953
I the undersigned Secretary of State of the United States of America hereby request all whom it may concern to permit safely and freely to pass James A. Whistler a Citizen of the United States and in case of need to give him all lawful Aid and Protection
Given under my hand and the impression of the DEPARTMENT OF STATE at the City of Washington the 28th day of July AD 1855 on the 80th year of the Independence of the United States
W. L. Marcy.
DESCRIPTION
[illegible]
Forehead Low
Eyes blue
Nose Large
Mouth Medium
Chin oval
Hair Very dark brown
Complexion fair
Face oval
Signature of Bearer
James A. Whistler
[p. 2, row 1, section 1:] Chauprè d'autres No.
No. d'ordre 39
No. du tarif. 51
solvit #. 2
[illegible, initials.]
[row 1, sections 2-3:]
VU À LA LÉGATION DE FRANCE, bon
pour se rendre en France
Washington le 29 Juillet 1855
Le Chancelier de Légation:
[De Gélibert?][4]
[circular stamp, bald eagle in centre, margin:] LÉGATION DE FRANCE A WASHINGTON.
[row 1, section 4:]
NO. [blank] VU AU CONSULAT DES ÉTATS UNIS
D'AMÉRIQUE À PARIS. LE 6 Novr. 1858[5]
BON POUR L'Angleterre
Henry N. Spencer[6]
Consul
[Geo Hutton?][7]
Secy.
[blue circular stamp, bald eagle in centre, margin:] CONSULATE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (PARIS)
[row 2, section 1:]
NO. 178
VU POUR l'Allemagne.[8]
PARIS le 14 Avril 1858
POUR LE PRÉFET DE POLICE,
LE CHEF DE BUREAU.
[illegible]
[blue circular stamp, margin illegible, centre:] PREFECTURE DE POLICE
TENU AU VISA
DU MINISTÈRE
DES AFFAIRES ÉTRANGÈRES
RUE DE L'UNIVERSITÉ 130
[row 2, sections 2-3:] [blue stamp, margin:] VILLE DU HAVRE, SEINE INFÉRIEURE,
[centre:] COMMISSAIRE DE POLICE
VU POUR Paris
SUR LE NAVIRE [dash]
HAVRE LE 3 Nov 1855[9]
LE COMMISSAIRE DE POLICE DÉLÉGUÉ
[illegible]
[row 2, section 4:]
NO. 18
VU POUR l'Angleterre
PARIS, LE 6 9bre. 1858[10].
POUR LE PRÉFET DE POLICE,
LE CHEF DE BUREAU.
[illegible]
[Circular blue stamp, margin:] BUREAU DES PASSEPORTS [centre:] PRÉFECTURE DE POLICE
[row 3, section 2:]
NO. 1568 VU AU CONSULAT DES ETATS-UNIS
D'AMÉRIQUE À PARIS, LE 14 Aout 1858[11]
BON POUR L'Allemagne et
le Continent
Henry N. Spencer
Consul
[Geo Hutton?]
[illegible]
Recd [illegible]
[blue circular stamp, bald eagle in centre, margin:] CONSULATE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (PARIS)
[row 3, section 3:]
NO. 30
VU POUR l'Angleterre.
PARIS, LE 6 Mai 1859[12].
POUR LE PRÉFET DE POLICE,
LE CHEF DE BUREAU.
[illegible]
sans frais
[Circular blue stamp, margin:] BUREAU DES PASSEPORTS [centre:] PRÉFECTURE DE POLICE
VU À LA LÉGATION DE BADE[13]
PARIS LE 14 Août 1858
[B Hetter?]
[Blue stamp, with a crown over a coat of arms, and margin:] GROSSHERZOGLICHE BADISCHE GESANDTSCHAFT. PARIS
[row 3, sections 3-4:]
TENU AU SOIN
DU MINISTÈRE
DES AFFAIRES ÉTRANGÈRES
RUE DE L'UNIVERSITÉ 130
[row 3, section 4:]
[Blue circular stamp, crowned eagle in centre, margin:] CONSULAT GENERAL DE FRANCE À LONDRES
[NO.] 5936
VU AU CONSULAT GEN: DE FRANCE
BON POUR un an POUR France
LONDRES LE 11 Janvier 1859[14]
PR. MR. LE CONSUL GÉNÉRAL
DROIT
ART [illegible]
[Ty Le Commis amppute?]
[A. Wed.?]
[row 3, section 5:]
VU POUR Paris
DIEPPE LE 12 Janvier 1859[15]
LE COMMISSAIRE SPÉCIAL
[illegible]
[row 4, section 2:]
Vu à Jeumont le 7 8bre 1858[16]
[illegible]
[Blue circular stamp, margin:] CHEMIN DE FER DE PARIS A LA FRONTIÈRE BELGE[17] [centre:] COMMISSARIAT DE POLICE
[row 4, section 3:]
VU AU VICE CONSULAT DE FRANCE
BON POUR la France
LIÉGE LE 7 8bre 1858[18]
LE VICE CONSUL DE FRANCE
DROIT F. [frates?]
ART 51 DU TARIF
SOLVIT [illegible]
[L Chapey ?]
[Blue circular stamp, crowned eagle in centre, margin:] AGENCE CONSULAIRE DE FRANCE A LIÉGE
[row 4, section 4:]
VU AU DÉBARQUEMENT
DIEPPE, LE 6 OCT 1859[19]
This document is protected by copyright.
Notes:
1. William Learned Marcy
William Learned Marcy (1786-1857), Democrat, Secretary of State during the Pierce administration [more].
2. MsD (Passport)
JW's passport is on a sheet of linen folded several times, with one corner attached to a leather bound notebook manufactured by Carter and Bromley, London. The official passport is on one side of the linen sheet, but has been completely covered by thin linen in an attempt at restoration, making it difficult to read. The consular stamps are on the back. Originally there were five sections on each of four rows, but one corner, the equivalent of two sections, has been cut off, leaving 18 sections, most of which have been used. The passport was used between 1855 and 1859, and the accompanying notebook (#12745) probably between 1861 and 1863.
3. Rejected at the Academy
This note, written in JW's hand, dates from later than the passport, but is contemporary with the accompanying notebook (#12745). Symphony in White, No. I: The White Girl (YMSM 38) was rejected by the Royal Academy in 1862, but exhibited in [Exhibition], Morgan's Gallery, Berners Street, London, 1862 On 26 June 1862, JW told G. A. Lucas that it was described in the catalogue as 'Rejected at the Academy' (#11977).
4. [De Gélibert?]
De Gilibert or Gélibert, Secretary at the French Legation in Washington, DC., in 1855.
5. 6 Novr. 1858
JW returned to London for Christmas, to stay with the Hadens. It was during this visit that he painted his first important oil, At the Piano (YMSM 24).
6. Henry N. Spencer
Henry N. Spencer [?], Consul at the American consulate in Paris in 1855 .
7. [Geo Hutton?]
George Hutton [?], Secretary at the American Legation in Paris in 1855.
8. l'Allemagne
This visa issued in Paris for Germany on 14 April 1858 is the first reference to JW's plans for an etching trip up the Rhine, which resulted in the Twelve Etchings from Nature, 1858 (the 'French Set', K.9-11, 13-17, 19, 21, 22, 24). (excat 3). JW obtained a second visa on 14 August.
9. HAVRE LE 3 Nov 1855
This marks JW's arrival in Europe. JW spent a month in London before travelling on to Paris via Le Havre.
10. PARIS, LE 6 9bre. 1858
The visa dates from 6 November 1858.
11. 14 Aout 1858
This is the second of two visas for Germany, the earlier one being dated 14 April.
12. PARIS, LE 6 Mai 1859
This visa marks the end of JW's sojourn as an art student in Paris. He moved to London.
13. LÉGATION DE BADE
This visa is connected with JW's plans for an etching trip up the Rhine. The Grand Duchy of Bade or Baden was a German state. Whistler did several drawings in the famous spa of Baden-Baden (M.245-8) including r.: Gambling salon at Baden-Baden; v.: Girl knitting, street scene, cloaked figure (M.245) where he may have lost his money.
14. LONDRES LE 11 Janvier 1859
JW was returning to France after Christmas with the Hadens in London, having painted At the Piano (YMSM 24).
15. DIEPPE LE 12 Janvier 1859
JW returned from London via Dieppe to Paris.
16. Jeumont le 7 8bre 1858
Fr., 7 October 1858. Jeumont is on the Franco-Belgian frontier, on the direct line to Charleroi, from which JW could have travelled north to Brussels or east to Namur and Liège.
17. CHEMIN DE FER DE PARIS À LA FRONTIÈRE BELGE
Fr., train from Paris at the Belgian frontier.
18. LIÈGE LE 7 8bre 1858
Fr., 7 October 1858.
19. DIEPPE, LE 6 OCT 1859
JW returned briefly to Paris via Dieppe.