Beatrice Whistler

Beatrice Whistler (also known as Beatrix or Trixie; 12 May 1857 – 10 May 1896) was born in Chelsea, London on 12 May 1857. She was the eldest daughter of ten children of the sculptor John Birnie Philip and Frances Black. She studied art in her father's studio and with Edward William Godwin who was an architect-designer. On 4 January 1876 she became the second wife of Edward Godwin. Following the death of Godwin, Beatrice married James McNeill Whistler on 11 August 1888.

Family Edward Godwin and Beatrice had a son together, also called Edward (1876–1957), who became known as a sculptor. He created the bronze angels that were placed on the Whistlers' tomb in Chiswick Old Cemetery.

Marriage to James McNeill Whistler

Maud Franklin had been Whistler's main model since the 1870s and became Whistler's mistress. She called herself "Mrs Whistler", with Whistler usually referring to her in company as "Madame". Whistler showed no intention of marrying Maud. Through his friendship with Edward Godwin, Whistler became close to Beatrice (or "Trixie" as he called her). Whistler painted her in the full-length portrait titled Harmony in Red: Lamplight (GLAHA 46315). In 1885 Beatrice separated from her husband as a result of his compulsive philandering. Godwin died in 1886. By the summer of 1888 Whistler and Beatrice appeared in public as a couple. At a dinner Louise Jopling and Henry Labouchère insisted that they should be married before the end of the week.

The wedding was arranged; as a member of Parliament, Henry Labouchère arranged for the Chaplain to the House of Commons to marry the couple. No publicity was given to the ceremony to avoid the possibility of a furious Maud Franklin interrupting the marriage ceremony.

He was at the top of his career when it was discovered that Beatrice had cancer. They returned to London in February 1896, taking rooms at the Savoy Hotel while they sought medical treatment. Whistler's portraits of her, The Siesta (C.159) and By the Balcony (C.160), were drawn as she lay dying. Following his death Whistler was buried in the same tomb as his wife.

Paintings and drawings

Beatrice signed her work with a monogram or trefoil 'BP', then 'BG'. She also exhibited as 'Rix Birnie' to avoid being stigmatised as a female artist. A limited number of her works remain: oil studies The Novel and The Muslin Gown are in private collections; Ethel Philip Reading a Newspaper is in the Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery; and Peach Blossom is in the National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C. Her jewellery designs are in the National Gallery of Art and the Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery.

Images of her that were painted by Whistler include: Paintings Harmony in Red: Lamplight (GLAHA 46315), a full-length portrait. Drawings The Siesta (C.159) and By the Balcony (C.160).

Louise Jopling (1843–1933), a poet and portrait painter, also painted a portrait of Beatrice.