San Biagio

Whistler, James McNeill, 1834-1903 · [1879–1880]

On a low bank sloping to the water's edge stands a massive building, through which a high rounded archway leads to a street lined with large houses. In the outer wall are windows on either side of the archway, three with opened shutters, and at the right is a doorway opening on a balcony. A long boat lies in the water, and stranded near the archway is a large loaded boat. About the boat is a group of boys. There is a woman in the balcony, and a man is standing by a windlass at the left of the archway; there are two people on the bank at the right, and groups of people in front of the houses. Garments are hung from various parts of the building and cloths are spread on the bank. The butterfly, shaded, is halfway up the plate, at the left edge.