Ethel Whibley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ethel Whibley
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Mother of Pearl and Silver: The Andalusian (1888–1900), National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
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| Born | 29 September 1861 Chelsea, London, England
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| Died | 21 April 1920 (aged 58) Paris, France
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| Other names | née Ethel Birnie Philip |
| Occupation | Secretary & model for James McNeill Whistler |
| Spouse(s) | Charles Whibley |
| Parent(s) | John Birnie Philip and Frances Black |
Ethel Whibley (born Philip; September 29, 1861 – April 21, 1920) was an English woman. She was the sister-in-law of the famous artist James McNeill Whistler. Ethel worked as Whistler's secretary. She also posed for him as a model for many of his full-length paintings. These paintings were made between 1888 and the mid-1890s.
Ethel's sister, Beatrice, married James McNeill Whistler in 1888. In 1896, Ethel married a writer named Charles Whibley. After Ethel, her younger sister, Rosalind Birnie Philip, became Whistler's secretary. Rosalind was also named the person in charge of Whistler's affairs after he died.
Ethel's Life Story
Ethel was born in Chelsea, London, on September 29, 1861. She was the fourth of ten children. Her father, John Birnie Philip, was a sculptor.
Before she got married, Ethel worked for James McNeill Whistler. She was his secretary from 1893 to 1894. Whistler painted many full-length pictures of Ethel. Some of these include Mother of Pearl and Silver: The Andalusian. He also made a watercolor painting called Rose and Silver: Portrait of Mrs Whibley. He created other sketches and etchings of her too. These were titled as Miss Ethel Philip or Mrs Whibley.
Ethel married Charles Whibley in 1896. Their wedding took place in the garden of Whistler's house in Paris.
Family members often wrote letters to each other. These letters talked about personal life, social events, and work. Whistler's sisters-in-law helped him with his business. They were his models and secretaries. In their letters, they used fun nicknames. Beatrice Whistler was called 'Trixie' or 'Chinkie'. Ethel Whibley was called 'Bunnie'. Her husband, Charles Whibley, was 'Wobbles'. Rosalind Birnie Philip was called the 'Major'. Whistler himself would sign letters as the 'General'. Sometimes he used his special butterfly signature instead.
Portraits of Ethel by James McNeill Whistler
James McNeill Whistler painted several oil portraits of Ethel Whibley. Here are some of their titles:
- Mother of Pearl and Silver: The Andalusian (1888–1900)
- Sketch for a Portrait of Miss Ethel Philip (1880s/1890s)
- Sketch of Miss Ethel Philip (1890s)
- Red and Black: The Fan (1891/1894)
- Harmony in Brown: The Felt Hat (1891)
- Miss Ethel Philip Reading (around 1894)
- Rose et or: La Tulipe (1892/1893)
- Harmony in Black: Portrait of Miss Ethel Philip (around 1894)
- The Rose Scarf (around 1890) (This one was painted on wood)
