James Abbott McNeill WhistlerAmerican, 1834–1903Reading by Lamplight
Can I see it?
Not on view at present
Where is “Reading by Lamplight” now? Collection: Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago. Not on view at present. Checked September 29, 2026.
Chicago, United States
It belongs to the collection, but is not on display at present.
- Checked
- In this state since
- Source
- The museum
About the work
Long before Whistler conceived of the portrait of his mother, his most important early models were his half-sister, Deborah Haden, and her family. Deborah was married to the physician, print collector, and amateur artist Francis Seymour Haden, and they had three children, Annie, Seymour, and Arthur. During one visit in 1859, Whistler created ambitious but personal depictions of the family, including the multifigure The Music Room (1917.444), which portrays the couple along with Haden’s medical partner, James Traer, as deeply absorbed in their respective activities. Meanwhile, the severe profile of Deborah in Reading by Lamplight anticipates Arrangement in Grey and Black No. 1.
Art Institute of ChicagoCC BY 4.0
Details
- Accession number
- 1917.443
In the catalog
Sources
- Art Institute of Chicago
- Image: Art Institute of Chicago — CC0
