Miss May Alexander
- Artist: James McNeill Whistler
- Date: 1874–5
- Medium: Oil paint on canvas
- Dimensions: support: 1924 × 1016 mm
- Museum: Tate Britain
- Collection record: Tate Britain website
Listen to the free audio guide
About this artwork
This is “Miss May Alexander” by James McNeill Whistler, painted in 1874–75. The portrait shows Agnes Mary “May” Alexander, who was commissioned by her father W.C. Alexander – a patron of Whistler’s very first Nocturne, *Nocturne: Blue and Silver – Chelsea*. In the canvas, May stands in rich shadows, a technique he borrowed from Spanish master Velásquez, giving the figure a starkly simple yet dramatic presence. The background is muted, with only yellow flowers bringing limited colour harmony to the scene. Unlike the earlier portrait of her younger sister Cicely on display nearby, this work has a tighter palette and more restrained composition. Oil paint on canvas captures fine detail in May’s hat and clothing, while the subtle lighting highlights her profile. The painting was bequeathed by W.C. Alexander in 1950 and is now part of the Tate collection.
See it in person
Miss May Alexander is in the collection of Tate Britain on Millbank, London — free to enter. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
