Monochrome Study of a Seated Woman (pastel & wash)

The grisaille study in oils for the figure in the painting By Water, which with its companion By Land was exhibited at the Dudley Gallery in 1882. The model is Kathleen Newton, who became Tissot’s mistress in 1876 and lived with him until her death from tuberculosis in 1882. The original oil is unknown except by Tissot’s photograph. Tissot was obsessed with her gentle beauty and made her the subject of almost every painting for the six years of their liaison. Miss Hervey said that they were deeply in love, and this is borne out by Tissot’s despairing attempts to find her again through mediums and seances after her death, when he continued to paint her for two or three years as if she were still alive.