The Historic House

Main Gallery

Artwork from the Whistler House Museum of Art's permanent collection is on display in the galleries of the historic house, which spans all three floors of the beautifully restored Federal and Greek Revival home.

The focus of the Museum's collection is late nineteenth-century and early twentieth-century American representational art, with special emphasis on the artists of New England.

Among the artists represented are James McNeill Whistler, William McGregor Paxton, Frank W. Benson, Marie Danforth Page, Thomas Bailey Lawson, William Preston Phelps, Aldro T. Hibbard, Sarah Wyman Whitman, Elizabeth Morse Walsh, William Morris Hunt, John Singer Sargent, and Arshile Gorky.

Francis Room

Nicknamed the "Francis Room" for the last Chief Engineer for the Proprietors of the Locks and Canal to have resided in the home, James B. Francis, the Whistler House Museum of Art uses the space to help orient visitors to the historic building and Lowell.
 
Paintings in the Francis Room include:
    • “Lowell in 1825”, Oil on canvas, by Benjamin Mather. One of the earliest known views of Lowell.

      Lowell 1825 by Benjamin Mather
 
Portrait of “James B. Francis” by R.M. Staigg

 

    • “Apres James McNeill Whistler, Arrangement in Grey and Black” 1906, Oil on canvas, by Edith Fairfax Davenport, a cousin of Whistler. This is an exact scale copy of the original painting which, it is said, heralded modern art. The original hangs in the Musee D’Orsay in Paris. Après Whistler, Arrangement in Grey and Black, No. 1

      Whistlers Mother Edith Fairfax Davenport

 



IN THE MAIN GALLERY

  • “The Children” by Frank W. Benson
  • Works by Arshile Gorky, George Loftus Noyes, Harold C. Dunbar, William Preston Phelps, Frederick Porter Vinton, Louis Kronberg, William Morris Hunt, and Thomas Bayley Lawson

Grand Hallway and Portrait Gallery

George W

“Major George Washington Whistler” by William S. Elwell

 

Neal

“David Neal” by Oscar Feher

  • “Philip Marden” by Marie Danforth Page
  • “Portrait of Woman in Profile” by Mary Earl Wood

Whistler Room

Etchings by Whistler, including “Annie Seated” 1858, “The Pool” 1859, “The Old Rag Woman” 1859, “Bibi Lalouette” 1859. Whistler’s etchings are known for their sensitivity of etched line as well as atmospheric effects which he created by varying the inking of the plate in brown tones, a technique that was considered a novelty at the time. Whistler was considered eccentric and controversial for his manner of entitling his etchings with a number as well as a title and for distributing white and yellow butterflies at his exhibitions. The butterflies were counterparts for his unique butterfly monogram which is usually imprinted on his etchings. Whistler’s etchings were printed in few impressions and are considered very rare. (Source: Antiques & Art Around Florida, Lorena Overstreet Allen, M.Ed., ISA)

  • Drawings & Paintings by Arshile Gorky - The Mina Boehm Metzger Collection
  • More from our permanent collection, including works by Aldro Thompson Hibbard, John Singer Sargent, William Preston Phelps, and William Henry Holmes.

Artist-in-Residence Studio

The studio for the Whistler House Artist-in-Residence is located here. The Artist-in-Residence program provides talented artists the opportunity to work in this beautiful artist loft.

Visitors are encouraged and welcomed to stop by and talk with our current Artist-in-Residence, Magdalene Stathas. 

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