James Abbott McNeill Whistler. 1834-1903.
The Lime-Burner. 1859. Etching. Kennedy 46.ii. 9 3/4x6 7/8 (sheet 10 15/16 x 7 5/16). Issued as plate 9 in "Sixteen Etchings or Scenes on the Thames and Other Subjects." (Thames Set). Illustrated: Print Collector's Quarterly 1 (1911): 35. Probably from the 1871 edition of the Thames Set published by Ellis and Green. A well-inked, cleanly wiped impression printed on antique cream laid paper. Signed and dated in the plate. $11,500.
In the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition of 1859, this etching was described as " W. Jones, lime-burner, Thames Street (943)."
Lime was used for making building mortar. The Lime Burner had a thankless if important task, heating chalk in a kiln at 1,100C to make quicklime. The dust it produced could cause blindness and spontaneously combust and burn.
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