Skip to main contentProvenanceThe artist
Mrs. Clifford Addams (Miss Inez Bate, Massière at the Académie Carmen, 1899–1901, who became Whistler's apprentice on May 21, 1901)
Edward Seago, by 1969
Peter Seymour, Ludham, Norfolk, England, January 1974 (bequest by Edward Seago)
Davis & Langdale Company, Inc., New York, New York
Daniel J. Terra Collection, Chicago, Illinois, 1983
Terra Foundation for the Arts Collection, Chicago, Illinois, 1992
Exhibition HistoryPublished References
James Abbott McNeill Whistler
(American, 1834–1903)
The Beach at Marseille
c. 1901
Oil on panel
Image: 8 1/16 x 13 1/16 in. (20.5 x 33.2 cm)
Frame: 15 3/16 x 20 1/4 in. (38.6 x 51.4 cm)
Frame: 15 3/16 x 20 1/4 in. (38.6 x 51.4 cm)
Credit LineTerra Foundation for American Art, Daniel J. Terra Collection
Object number1992.143
SignedLower right: butterfly monogram
InterpretationAmong the last dozen paintings James McNeill Whistler made, The Beach at Marseille is the only one known to depict the French Mediterranean seaport. Unlike most of Whistler’s coastal scenes painted from the 1880s on, it focuses not on the sea but on the beach, seen obliquely with the town in the right distance and the soft blue silhouette of a mountain rising behind it. At the left, a glimpse of water shows a harbor dense with sailing vessels. The painting is dominated, however, by an expanse of tawny sand broken by the dark horizontal band of a low wall, terminating at the left in a shallow pool where a kneeling figure is bent over the sand; in the central distance, a darker figure stands by a line strung with drying clothes that lend vibrant notes of color.
The elderly painter came to Marseille from Northern Africa, to which his doctors in London had ordered him when his health declined seriously in late 1900. In Marseille Whistler was gravely ill, which may explain his limited artistic output there. Nonetheless, he found the French seaport inspiring, writing wistfully to his sister-in-law, Rosalind Birnie Philip, "what beautiful things one could do here!" The Beach at Marseille indicates Whistler’s interest in the variety of forms in the landscape of beach, town, sea, and boats. The result is a relatively complex composition, in contrast to the reductive simplicity of the artist’s typical late seascapes, of which the Terra Foundation’s The Sea, Pourville (TF 1992.158) is an example.
The elderly painter came to Marseille from Northern Africa, to which his doctors in London had ordered him when his health declined seriously in late 1900. In Marseille Whistler was gravely ill, which may explain his limited artistic output there. Nonetheless, he found the French seaport inspiring, writing wistfully to his sister-in-law, Rosalind Birnie Philip, "what beautiful things one could do here!" The Beach at Marseille indicates Whistler’s interest in the variety of forms in the landscape of beach, town, sea, and boats. The result is a relatively complex composition, in contrast to the reductive simplicity of the artist’s typical late seascapes, of which the Terra Foundation’s The Sea, Pourville (TF 1992.158) is an example.
Mrs. Clifford Addams (Miss Inez Bate, Massière at the Académie Carmen, 1899–1901, who became Whistler's apprentice on May 21, 1901)
Edward Seago, by 1969
Peter Seymour, Ludham, Norfolk, England, January 1974 (bequest by Edward Seago)
Davis & Langdale Company, Inc., New York, New York
Daniel J. Terra Collection, Chicago, Illinois, 1983
Terra Foundation for the Arts Collection, Chicago, Illinois, 1992
Exhibition History
James McNeill Whistler 1834–1903, Nationalgalerie, Berlin, Germany, October 1–November 24, 1969. [exh. cat.]
A Proud Heritage: Two Centuries of American Art, Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois (organizer). Venue: Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois, April 21–June 21, 1987. [exh. cat.]
An American Revelation: The Daniel J. Terra Collection, Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois (organizer). Venue: Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois, February 28–October 1, 1988.
Whistler and His Circle, Minnesota Museum of Art, St. Paul, Minnesota, April 9–June 25, 1989. [exh. cat.]
Un regard américain sur Paris (An American Glance at Paris), Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France (organizer). Venue: Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France, April 11–October 31, 1997.
Ville et campagne: les artistes américains, 1870–1920 (The City and the Country: American Perspectives, 1870–1920), Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France (organizer). Venue: Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France, April 1–November 1, 1999. [exh. cat.]
Rivières et rivages: les artistes américains, 1850–1900 (Waves and Waterways: American Perspectives, 1850–1900), Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France (organizer). Venue: Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France, April 1–October 31, 2000. [exh. cat.]
American Classics: Selections from the Terra Foundation for the Arts, Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois (organizer). Venue: Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois, January 26–September 1, 2002.
Modern Harmonies: Whistler Reflects on his Art, Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois (organizer). Venue: Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois, May 31–August 31, 2003.
Studied Abroad: Painted Impressions from the Collection, Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois (organizer). Venue: Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois, September 6, 2003–April 4, 2004.
Le Passage à Paris: les artistes américains en France, 1860–1930 (Passing through Paris: American Artists in France, 1860–1930), Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France (organizer). Venue: Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, April 1–October 31, 2005. [exh. brochure]
Le Passage à Paris: les artistes américains en France, 1860–1930 (Passing through Paris: American Artists in France, 1860–1930), Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France (organizer). Venue: Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, April 1–October 29, 2006. [exh. brochure]
Gallery Installation, Williams College Museum of Art, Williamstown, Massachusetts (organizer). Venues: Williams College Museum of Art, Williamstown, Massachusetts, June 27, 2015–May 31, 2016.
The Studio of Nature, 1860-1910: The Terra Collection in Context (L’atelier de la Nature, 1860-1910. Invitation à la Terra Collection). Terra Foundation for American Art with the Musée des Impressionnismes Giverny (organizers). Venue: Musée des Impressionnismes Giverny, France, September 12, 2020–January 3, 2021. [exh. cat. in French]
Whistler to Cassatt: American Painters in France, Denver Museum of Fine Arts, Denver (organizer); Venues: Denver Art Museum, November 14, 2021 - March 13, 2022; Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Richmond, April 16 - July 31, 2022. [exh. cat.]
A Proud Heritage: Two Centuries of American Art, Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois (organizer). Venue: Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois, April 21–June 21, 1987. [exh. cat.]
An American Revelation: The Daniel J. Terra Collection, Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois (organizer). Venue: Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois, February 28–October 1, 1988.
Whistler and His Circle, Minnesota Museum of Art, St. Paul, Minnesota, April 9–June 25, 1989. [exh. cat.]
Un regard américain sur Paris (An American Glance at Paris), Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France (organizer). Venue: Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France, April 11–October 31, 1997.
Ville et campagne: les artistes américains, 1870–1920 (The City and the Country: American Perspectives, 1870–1920), Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France (organizer). Venue: Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France, April 1–November 1, 1999. [exh. cat.]
Rivières et rivages: les artistes américains, 1850–1900 (Waves and Waterways: American Perspectives, 1850–1900), Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France (organizer). Venue: Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France, April 1–October 31, 2000. [exh. cat.]
American Classics: Selections from the Terra Foundation for the Arts, Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois (organizer). Venue: Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois, January 26–September 1, 2002.
Modern Harmonies: Whistler Reflects on his Art, Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois (organizer). Venue: Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois, May 31–August 31, 2003.
Studied Abroad: Painted Impressions from the Collection, Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois (organizer). Venue: Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois, September 6, 2003–April 4, 2004.
Le Passage à Paris: les artistes américains en France, 1860–1930 (Passing through Paris: American Artists in France, 1860–1930), Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France (organizer). Venue: Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, April 1–October 31, 2005. [exh. brochure]
Le Passage à Paris: les artistes américains en France, 1860–1930 (Passing through Paris: American Artists in France, 1860–1930), Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France (organizer). Venue: Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, April 1–October 29, 2006. [exh. brochure]
Gallery Installation, Williams College Museum of Art, Williamstown, Massachusetts (organizer). Venues: Williams College Museum of Art, Williamstown, Massachusetts, June 27, 2015–May 31, 2016.
The Studio of Nature, 1860-1910: The Terra Collection in Context (L’atelier de la Nature, 1860-1910. Invitation à la Terra Collection). Terra Foundation for American Art with the Musée des Impressionnismes Giverny (organizers). Venue: Musée des Impressionnismes Giverny, France, September 12, 2020–January 3, 2021. [exh. cat. in French]
Whistler to Cassatt: American Painters in France, Denver Museum of Fine Arts, Denver (organizer); Venues: Denver Art Museum, November 14, 2021 - March 13, 2022; Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Richmond, April 16 - July 31, 2022. [exh. cat.]
MacInnes, Margaret F. "Whistler's Last Years: Spring 1901—Algiers and Corsica." Gazette des Beaux-Arts 73 (1969): 342. Text p. 342.
Young, Andrew McLaren, Margaret F. MacDonald, and Robin Spencer with the assistance of Hamish Miles. The Paintings of James McNeill Whistler. New Haven, Connecticut and London, England: Yale University Press, 1980. Text no. 543, p. 226; pl. 359 (black & white).
Atkinson, D. Scott et al. A Proud Heritage: Two Centuries of American Art. Edited by Terry A. Neff. (exh. cat., Terra Museum of American Art). Chicago, Illinois: Terra Foundation for the Arts, 1987. Pl. T-45, p. 154 (color).
Cartwright, Derrick R. The City and the Country: American Perspectives, 1870–1920. (exh. cat., Musée d'Art Américain Giverny). Chicago, Illinois: Terra Foundation for the Arts, 1999. Text pp. 13, 27 (checklist); fig. 4, p. 13 (black & white).
Cartwright, Derrick R. Ville et campagne: les artistes américains, 1870–1920. (exh. cat., Musée d'Art Américain Giverny). Chicago, Illinois: Terra Foundation for the Arts, 1999. Text pp. 13, 27 (checklist); fig. 4, p. 13 (black & white).
Davidson, Susan, ed. Art in the USA: 300 años de innovación. (exh. cat., Guggenheim Museum Bilbao). New York, NY: Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation; Chicago, IL: Terra Foundation for American Art, 2007. (Spanish version). Ill. p. 117 (color).
Bourguignon, Katherine and Valerie Reis. The Studio of Nature, 1860-1910: The Terra Collection in Context. (exh. cat, Terra Foundation for American Art with the Musée des Impressionnismes Giverny). Paris, France: Réunion des musées nationaux, 2020. Text p. 46, 88; Pl. 28, p. 93 (color).
Standring, Timothy J., ed. Whistler to Cassatt: American Painters in France. (exh. cat., Denver Art Museum). New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 2021. Text p. 24; ill. p. 23 (color).
Young, Andrew McLaren, Margaret F. MacDonald, and Robin Spencer with the assistance of Hamish Miles. The Paintings of James McNeill Whistler. New Haven, Connecticut and London, England: Yale University Press, 1980. Text no. 543, p. 226; pl. 359 (black & white).
Atkinson, D. Scott et al. A Proud Heritage: Two Centuries of American Art. Edited by Terry A. Neff. (exh. cat., Terra Museum of American Art). Chicago, Illinois: Terra Foundation for the Arts, 1987. Pl. T-45, p. 154 (color).
Cartwright, Derrick R. The City and the Country: American Perspectives, 1870–1920. (exh. cat., Musée d'Art Américain Giverny). Chicago, Illinois: Terra Foundation for the Arts, 1999. Text pp. 13, 27 (checklist); fig. 4, p. 13 (black & white).
Cartwright, Derrick R. Ville et campagne: les artistes américains, 1870–1920. (exh. cat., Musée d'Art Américain Giverny). Chicago, Illinois: Terra Foundation for the Arts, 1999. Text pp. 13, 27 (checklist); fig. 4, p. 13 (black & white).
Davidson, Susan, ed. Art in the USA: 300 años de innovación. (exh. cat., Guggenheim Museum Bilbao). New York, NY: Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation; Chicago, IL: Terra Foundation for American Art, 2007. (Spanish version). Ill. p. 117 (color).
Bourguignon, Katherine and Valerie Reis. The Studio of Nature, 1860-1910: The Terra Collection in Context. (exh. cat, Terra Foundation for American Art with the Musée des Impressionnismes Giverny). Paris, France: Réunion des musées nationaux, 2020. Text p. 46, 88; Pl. 28, p. 93 (color).
Standring, Timothy J., ed. Whistler to Cassatt: American Painters in France. (exh. cat., Denver Art Museum). New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 2021. Text p. 24; ill. p. 23 (color).