Oil paint on canvas
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<a href="https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/james-abbott-mcneill-whistler-598" aria-label="More by James Abbott McNeill Whistler" data-gtm-name="header_link_artist" data-gtm-destination="page--artist">James Abbott McNeill Whistler</a>
Crepuscule in Flesh Colour and Green Valparaiso
Presented by W. Graham Robertson 1940
Chile
cities, towns, villages (non-UK)
cloud
countries and continents
evening
flag, France
harbour
history
military
objects
places
religious and ceremonial
sea
seascapes and coasts
ship, sailing
society
times of the day
transport: water
Valparaiso
Valparaiso, Spanish bombardment, 31 March 1866
weather
<p>In 1866 Whistler sailed from London to the Chilean port of Valparaiso, apparently intending to fight for Chile in their war against Spain. He painted this work there, and the title indicates that Whistler's main intention was to capture the effect of twilight (crepuscule) through the use of colour.</p><p>The work is thought to show the withdrawal of British, American and French fleets from the port. The Spanish had announced their intention to bombard the city, which they did this the following day. By then, Whistler had fled to the hills on horseback.</p><p><em>Gallery label, August 2018</em></p>
painting oil paint canvas
11 October 2002 – 5 January 2003
2003-01-05
11 October 2002 – 5 January 2003
2003-01-05
2002-10-11
Frist Center for the Visual Arts (Nashville, USA)
2002-10-11
Whistler Sargent and Steer - Frist
Tate partnerships & programmes
3 June 2003 – 18 August 2003
2003-08-18
3 June 2003 – 18 August 2003
2003-08-18
2003-06-03
Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York, USA)
http://www.metmuseum.org
2003-06-03
Manet and the American Civil War
Loan-out
19 October 2003 – 10 October 2004
2004-10-10
19 October 2003 – 4 January 2004
2004-01-04
2003-10-19
The Art Institute of Chicago (Chicago, USA)
http://www.artic.edu/aic
8 February 2004 – 9 May 2004
2004-05-09
2004-02-08
Philadelphia Museum of Art (Philadelphia, USA)
http://www.philamuseum.org
18 June 2004 – 10 October 2004
2004-10-10
2004-06-18
Van Gogh Museum (Amsterdam, Netherlands)
http://www.vangoghmuseum.nl/
2003-10-19
Manet and the Sea
Loan-out
19 December 2005 – 13 November 2006
2006-11-13
Tate Britain (London, UK)
http://www.tate.org.uk/britain/
Tate Britain (London, UK)
http://www.tate.org.uk/britain/
2005-12-19
J. A. M. Whistler
Collection based display
6 December 2006 – 4 June 2007
2007-06-04
6 December 2006 – 15 February 2007
2007-02-15
2006-12-06
State Tretyakov Gallery (Moscow, Russia)
State Russian Museum (St Petersburg, Russia)
http://www.rusmuseum.ru
2006-12-06
Whistler: Russian Suite
Loan-out
1 May 2009 – 2 December 2010
2010-12-02
1 May 2009 – 2 December 2010
2010-12-02
2009-05-01
Tate Britain (London, UK)
http://www.tate.org.uk/britain/
2009-05-01
James Abbott McNeill Whistler
Collection based display
16 October 2010 – 4 November 2012
2012-11-04
16 October 2010 – 4 November 2012
2012-11-04
2010-10-16
Tate Britain (London, UK)
http://www.tate.org.uk/britain/
2010-10-16
Gallery 10
Collection based display
21 November 2013 – 1 September 2014
2014-09-01
4 June 2014 – 1 September 2014
2014-09-01
2014-06-04
Peabody Essex Museum (Salem, USA)
http://www.pem.org
2013-11-21
Turner and Marine Painting: Imagining the Sea, 1796 - 1899
Loan-out
7 August 2014 – 24 July 2022
2022-07-24
7 August 2014
2014-08-07
Tate Britain (London, UK)
http://www.tate.org.uk/britain/
2014-08-07
Gallery 9
Collection based display
13 September 2014 – 1 March 2015
2015-03-01
13 September 2014 – 16 November 2014
2014-11-16
2014-09-13
National Museum of Modern Art (Kyoto, Japan)
6 December 2014 – 1 March 2015
2015-03-01
2014-12-06
Yokohama Museum of Art (Yokohama, Japan)
2014-09-13
James McN. Whistler Retrospective
Loan-out
8 June 2021 – 14 January 2024
2024-01-14
12 July 2023 – 2 October 2023
2023-10-02
2023-07-12
National Art Center (Tokyo, Japan)
26 October 2023 – 14 January 2024
2024-01-14
2023-10-26
Nakanoshima Museum of Art (Osaka, Japan)
2021-06-08
Light
Tate partnerships & programmes
6 February 2025 – 28 June 2025
2025-06-28
6 February 2025 – 28 June 2025
2025-06-28
2025-02-06
Dovecot Studios (Edinburgh, UK)
2025-02-06
The Scottish Colourists and their World
Loan-out
Crepuscule in Flesh Colour and Green: Valparaiso
support: 586 × 759 mm
frame: 910 × 1080 × 100 mm
Presented by W. Graham Robertson 1940
<p>The title of this picture indicates that Whistler's main purpose was to capture the effect of twilight through harmonies of colour.  However, the subtitle, 'Valparaiso', also gives a clue to the subject: the Spanish bombardment of Chile's principal harbour in March 1866.

</p><p>Responding to the Spanish occupation of the Peruvian-owned Chincha Islands in 1864, the South American countries of Chile, Bolivia and Ecuador formed an alliance with Peru against Spain. In February 1866 Whistler left London for South America, in order to assist the Chilean cause. When he arrived in Chile on 12 March a squadron of six Spanish ships was blockading the country's main harbour, Valparaiso. In order to protect their own nationals and act as a neutral, peacekeeping force, the British, American and French governments had sent out their own fleets, who were also present. On 27 March the Spanish announced their intention to bombard the city.  Although outraged by this act of aggression, the British, American and French fleets had no option but to withdraw. Whistler's picture almost certainly records the beginning of their withdrawal, on the evening of 30 March.  The following day the Spanish bombarded the city, by which time Whistler had fled to the hills on horseback.

</p><p>Whistler painted three other <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/c/canvas" title="Glossary definition for 'Canvas'"><span>canvases</span></a> in Valparaiso, all depicting the prelude or aftermath to the hostilities.  According to Eddy, he completed this picture 'at a single sitting, having prepared his colours in advance' (Arthur J. Eddy, <i>Recollections &amp; Impressions of James A. McNeill Whistler</i>, Philadelphia 1903, p.23).  From this, we can gather that he was working from memory and that the overall effect was more important than accuracy of detail.  We know from contemporary accounts that the Americans sent one iron-clad turreted ship and five steamers, and that the French and British fleets included frigates and gunboats.  Despite this, Whistler has depicted mainly sailing ships, some of which have started to unfurl their sails, ready to move towards the open sea.  The only clearly visible flag is the French tricolour in the centre of the <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/c/composition" title="Glossary definition for 'Composition'"><span>composition</span></a>, silhouetted against the gathering violet and purple clouds. Comparisons have been drawn with Manet's early marine views of 1864-5, and especially his depiction of the <i>Battle of the Kearsarge and the Alabama</i> (1864, Philadelphia Museum of Art).

</p><p>When it was exhibited at the French Gallery in London in 1867 the picture was well received.  The critic writing for the <i>Athenaeum </i>commented on the way in which Whistler had given 'an aspect of sleepy motion to the vessels, andconveyed to the spectator the rolling, seemingly breathing, surface of the sea with a power that is magical' ('The Winter Exhibition at the French Gallery', <i>Athenaeum</i> No.2045, 5 January 1867, pp.22-3).

</p><p><b>Further reading:<br/></b>Richard Dorment and Margaret F. MacDonald, <i>James McNeill Whistler</i>, exhibition catalogue, Tate Gallery, London 1994, pp.117-8, no.44, reproduced in colour p.118.<br/>Andrew McLaren Young, Margaret F. MacDonald, Robin Spencer with the assistance of Hamish Miles, <i>The Paintings of James MacNeill Whistler</i>, New Haven and London, 1980, no. 73, reproduced in colour plate 57.

</p><p>Frances Fowle <br/>December 2000</p>
Summary
2005-09-15T00:00:00
summary
SHORT_TEXT
<div class="text">
<p>In 1866 Whistler sailed from London to the Chilean port of Valparaiso, apparently intending to fight for Chile in their war against Spain. He painted this work there, and the title indicates that Whistler's main intention was to capture the effect of twilight (crepuscule) through the use of colour. </p>
<p>The work is thought to show the withdrawal of British, American and French fleets from the port. The Spanish had announced their intention to bombard the city, which they did this the following day. By then, Whistler had fled to the hills on horseback. </p>
</div>

Display caption
2018-08-03T00:00:00
display-caption
DISPLAY_CAPTION
Chile cities, towns, villages (non-UK) cloud countries and continents evening flag, France harbour history military objects places religious and ceremonial sea seascapes and coasts ship, sailing society times of the day transport: water Valparaiso Valparaiso, Spanish bombardment, 31 March 1866 weather