Attributed to Mortimer Luddington Menpes (British 1855-1938) Two Portrait Sketches of J.A.M. Whistler: Face Three-quarter View

Attributed to Mortimer Luddington Menpes (British, 1855-1938) Two Portrait Sketches of J. A.M. Whistler: Face Three-quarter View and Profile with Arms Folded Both signed "Mortimer Menpes" l.r. and with Menpes collector's marks on the reverse, Profile inscribed "Ever Young/J.A.McN. Whistler" in red/brown ink l.l. Charcoal and chalk on blue paper, 19 1/4 x 14 in. (48.5 x 35.5 cm), matted, unframed. Condition: Both with horizontal center creasing, minor soiling and rippling to the edges, small remnants of old hinges on the reverse, Profile irregularly trimmed along the l.r. edge, Face with small loss to u.r. corner of the sheet. N.B. Menpes set off on a sketching tour of Brittany, France, in 1880 and thereby met James McNeill Whistler, becoming his pupil and at one stage sharing a flat with him at Cheyne Walk on the Embankment in London. The two artists remained lifelong friends.