Viewing page 393 of 527

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

371

-2-

early and rare one. The subject is a young man, wearing a German cap and wooden sandals. He stands near an entrance to a building. His back is turned towards the observer. The light falls upon his left side and foot. The initials "J. W." are in the upper left-hand corner. It is an upright, 3 1-8" high by 1 11-16" wide. My impression is printed on very thin golden - toned paper, which was out to practically the exact size of the plate, and then it was pasted over white paper before the printing was done. In my opinion, the subject was sketched by Mr. Whistler during his trip on the Rhine, as it bears very close resemblance to the forty or more pencil sketches of that trip which came to me in the Haden Collection. Whether the plate was etched during the time of the journey, of course, I know not, but I am confident that is is contemporaneous with at least the first half dozen plates he ever etched.
Regretting I cannot give you all of the information asked for in your letter, and awaiting your further wishes in the matter, I am, 
Yours very truly,
Charles L Freer

Howard Mansfield, Esq.,
C/o Lord, Day & Lord,
#49 Wall Street, 
New York City.