In 1861, after returning to Paris for a time, James Abbott McNeill Whistler painted his first famous work, Symphony in White, No. 1: The White Girl. This portrait of his mistress and business manager Joanna Hiffernan was created as a simple study in white; however, others saw it differently. The critic Jules-Antoine Castagnary thought the painting an allegory of a new bride's lost innocence. Others linked it to Wilkie Collins's The Woman in White, a popular novel of the time, or various other literary sources. In England, some considered it a painting in the Pre-Raphaelite manner.Anderson and Koval, pgs. 106, 119 In the painting, Hiffernan holds a lily in her left hand and stands upon a wolf skin rug (interpreted by some to represent masculinity and lust) with the wolf's head staring menacingly at the viewer.
in 1861 after returning to paris for a time james abbott mcneill whistler painted his first famous work symphony in white no 1 the white girl this portrait of his mistress and business manager joanna hiffernan was created as a simple study in white; however others saw it differently the critic jules-antoine castagnary thought the painting an allegory of a new bride's lost innocence others linked it to wilkie collins's the woman in white a popular novel of the time or various other literary sources in england some considered it a painting in the pre-raphaelite manneranderson and koval pgs 106 119 in the painting hiffernan holds a lily in her left hand and stands upon a wolf skin rug (interpreted by some to represent masculinity and lust) with the wolf's head staring menacingly at the viewer