Edward Guthrie Kennedy
Edward Guthrie Kennedy (1849–1932) was born in Ireland and came to the United States at the age of eighteen. After ten years in the art business in Boston, he joined the New York gallery of Wunderlich and Company. After Hermann Wunderlich's death in 1891, Kennedy became the head of the gallery that today bears his name. For many years he represented Whistler in the United States and developed a close friendship with him. Just before Whistler's death, the two quarreled, ending their friendship. Kennedy retired in 1916 to devote himself to collecting, donating his papers and prints to the New York Public Library. He was also a benefactor of The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Kennedy first posed for Whistler in July of 1892 and again in 1893 before posing for this portrait beginning during the summer of 1893. Whistler worked on the portrait in 1894 and 1895 before giving it to the artist. According to Whistler, it was a replica of one of the earlier portraits done of Kennedy and later destroyed. The frame is original to the painting and was probably purchased by Kennedy in New York.
Artwork Details
- Title: Edward Guthrie Kennedy
- Artist: James McNeill Whistler (American, Lowell, Massachusetts 1834–1903 London)
- Date: 1893–95
- Culture: American
- Medium: Oil on wood
- Dimensions: 11 5/8 x 7 in. (29.4 x 17.8 cm)
- Credit Line: Gift of Edward G. Kennedy, 1909
- Object Number: 09.222
- Curatorial Department: The American Wing
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