Jim McNeill’s Touraine honeymoon – 1888

Now, here’s a thing you may not have known. James McNeill Whistler (the American artist of “Whistler’s Grandmother” fame) came to the Touraine when on honeymoon with his English wife, the recently widowed Beatrix (née Birnie Philip) in the summer of 1888.

Whistler took with him 34 grounded copper plates to capture views and buildings. Beatrix, who was also an artist and designer, worked alongside him as they visited a number of châteaux on their travels through the Touraine countryside.

Sadly their marriage lasted only eight years with Beatrix dying of cancer aged just 39 in 1896.

The views below are “View from the Château walls, Loches” (ink on paper) by Beatrix Whistler while  “From Agnes Sorel’s Walk, Loches” and “Clock Tower, Amboise” and “Rue des Bon Enfants, Tours”(etchings) are by James McNeill Whistler. They can all be found on the European cultural web site www.europeana.eu .

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