Édouard Manet
The Spanish Singer
1860-1861
Physical Qualities
Etching and bitten tone, Sheet: 327 x 284 mm. (12 7/8 x 11 3/16 in.)
Plate: 298 x 243 mm. (11 3/4 x 9 9/16 in.)
Credit Line
The George A. Lucas Collection, purchased with funds from the State of Maryland, Laurence and Stella Bendann Fund, and contributions from individuals, foundations, and corporations throughout the Baltimore community
Object Number
1996.48.5117
Édouard Manet first achieved critical success in 1861 when he exhibited the painting "The Spanish Singer" at his inaugural Salon exhibition in Paris. The subject reflected the growing interest in France for Spanish art and also drew on Manet’s close study
of the work of Spanish masters Diego Velázquez and Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes. Not only was his painting awarded an honorable mention but it also attracted favorable attention from fellow artists. In order to gain a wider audience for his work, and inspired by the recent revival of interest in etching, Manet translated this painting into a print called "The Guitar Player". He experimented with shading the background and altering his signature, and produced several versions, or states, of this print. It was included in his first published series of etchings in 1862 and went on to be issued numerous times throughout the 19th century, printed in various ink colors and on diverse types of paper.
The Baltimore Museum of Art by purchase, 1996; The Maryland Institute College of Art,
through Henry Walters, Baltimore, by bequest 1909; from George A. Lucas, Paris
through Henry Walters, Baltimore, by bequest 1909; from George A. Lucas, Paris
The Maryland Institude of Art, Baltimore, Dec. 3 - Dec. 22, 1959.
Maryland Arts Council, Sept. 17, 1969 - June 19, 1970.
Yale University Art Gallery, New Haven, CT, "Manet and His Contemporaries," Oct. 10 - Dec. 12, 1971.
BMA, "The Prints of Edouard Manet: A Centenary Celebration," 27 September - 20 November, 1983.
Jay McKean Fisher, International Exhibitions Foundation, Washington, D.C., "The Prints of Edouard Manet," May 1985 - June 1986, cat. no. 11, p. 43-44, ill. p. 43; circulated to The Detroit Institute of Art, May 14 - June 30, 1985; University Art Museum, Berkeley, Sept. 18 - Nov. 3; The St. Louis Art Museum, Nov. 23, 1985 - Jan. 5, 1986; Huntsville Museum of Art; Worcester Art Museum, Jan. 25 - Mar. 9, 1986; Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto, Mar. 29 - May 11, 1986.
Jay McKean Fisher, The Baltimore Museum of Art, “Three Master Printmakers from the Nineteenth Century: Eugène Delacroix, Edouard Manet, Mary Cassatt,” March 17-May 30, 1993
Jay Fisher, BMA, "A Continuing Example: Prints and Drawings from the George A. Lucas Collection," 4 February - 9 April, 1995.
Palmer Museum of Art, Penn State University, "Manet and Friends," 15 January - 6 April 2008.
Rena Hoisington, The Baltimore Museum of Art, "New Arrivals: Gifts of Art for a New Century," February 7-May 8, 2016.
Maryland Arts Council, Sept. 17, 1969 - June 19, 1970.
Yale University Art Gallery, New Haven, CT, "Manet and His Contemporaries," Oct. 10 - Dec. 12, 1971.
BMA, "The Prints of Edouard Manet: A Centenary Celebration," 27 September - 20 November, 1983.
Jay McKean Fisher, International Exhibitions Foundation, Washington, D.C., "The Prints of Edouard Manet," May 1985 - June 1986, cat. no. 11, p. 43-44, ill. p. 43; circulated to The Detroit Institute of Art, May 14 - June 30, 1985; University Art Museum, Berkeley, Sept. 18 - Nov. 3; The St. Louis Art Museum, Nov. 23, 1985 - Jan. 5, 1986; Huntsville Museum of Art; Worcester Art Museum, Jan. 25 - Mar. 9, 1986; Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto, Mar. 29 - May 11, 1986.
Jay McKean Fisher, The Baltimore Museum of Art, “Three Master Printmakers from the Nineteenth Century: Eugène Delacroix, Edouard Manet, Mary Cassatt,” March 17-May 30, 1993
Jay Fisher, BMA, "A Continuing Example: Prints and Drawings from the George A. Lucas Collection," 4 February - 9 April, 1995.
Palmer Museum of Art, Penn State University, "Manet and Friends," 15 January - 6 April 2008.
Rena Hoisington, The Baltimore Museum of Art, "New Arrivals: Gifts of Art for a New Century," February 7-May 8, 2016.
Patrick J. McGrady, "Manet and Friends," University Park: Palmer Museum of Art, The Pennsylvania State University, 2008, fig. 4, p. 6 and cat. no. 1, p. 14, ill.
Inscribed: None
Markings: Collector's stamp: verso "M.I. / LUCAS / COLLECTION" (Lugt 1695c)
