The work shows a woman in full figure standing with her back to the viewer, with her head in profile.

[5] In 1843, his father relocated the family to Saint Petersburg, Russia, where James received training in painting.

She married Charles Whibley in 1896 in the garden of the house occupied by Whistler at Rue du Bac.

[11] Her sister Rosalind Birnie Philip succeeded Ethel as Whistler's secretary, and was appointed the artist's executrix at his death.

[12] Whistler painted a number of full-length portraits of Ethel, including Mother of Pearl and Silver: The Andalusian[13] and the watercolour Rose and Silver: Portrait of Mrs Whibley;[14] and other sketches and etchings of her titled as Miss Ethel Philip or Mrs Whibley.