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Arrangement in Flesh Colour and Black: Portrait of Theodore Duret

1883
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 771
The Parisian collector and art critic Théodore Duret (1838–1927), an early champion of Gustave Courbet, Edouard Manet, and the Impressionists, posed for this portrait in Whistler’s London studio. At Duret’s request, the artist portrayed him in formal evening dress but suggested that he drape a pink domino—a hooded masquerade cloak—over his arm to echo the flesh tones and relieve the austere black-and-gray palette. An exemplar of Whistler’s mature style, the portrait is a skillful characterization and a harmonious "arrangement." The red ladies’ fan adds a striking color accent and has prompted some viewers to see a hint of narrative.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Arrangement in Flesh Colour and Black: Portrait of Theodore Duret
  • Artist: James McNeill Whistler (American, Lowell, Massachusetts 1834–1903 London)
  • Date: 1883
  • Culture: American
  • Medium: Oil on canvas
  • Dimensions: 76 1/8 x 35 3/4 in. (193.4 x 90.8 cm)
  • Credit Line: Catharine Lorillard Wolfe Collection, Wolfe Fund, 1913
  • Object Number: 13.20
  • Curatorial Department: The American Wing

Audio

Cover Image for 4386. Arrangement in Flesh Colour and Black: Portrait of Theodore Duret

4386. Arrangement in Flesh Colour and Black: Portrait of Theodore Duret

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