What is the largest sharp print size for Bust of Man (from Sketchbook)?

At 300 dpi, this 2,817 × 3,722 px file prints up to 9.4 × 12.4 in with gallery-sharp detail. At 150 dpi the file reaches 18.8 × 24.8 in, which is poster-sharp quality.

Which standard frame sizes give gallery-sharp prints of Bust of Man (from Sketchbook)?

Gallery-sharp (300 dpi or above) frame sizes: 8 × 10 in. Sharp-to-poster-quality sizes also work: 11 × 14 in, 12 × 16 in, 16 × 20 in, 18 × 24 in.

Does printing Bust of Man (from Sketchbook) require cropping the image?

Standard frame aspect ratios may not match this artwork exactly; depending on the size chosen, up to 12% of the image could be cropped. Most print-on-demand services let you adjust the crop position or add a white mat border instead.

Bust of Man (from Sketchbook) — James McNeill Whistler | Free high-res download

Bust of Man (from Sketchbook)

James McNeill Whistler · 1854–55 · The Met, New York

Public domain · CC0 · $0.002,817 × 3,722 px · 10.5 MP

Prints gallery-sharp up to9.4 × 12.4 inat 300 dpi, uncropped · poster-sharp to 18.8 × 24.8 in at 150 dpi

The download is the Met's own open-access file, served by the Met. Big file — give it a minute.

Build the wall set

Art, frame, light and hanging gear, picked together. Choose a size and finish; the wall preview shows exactly what you're getting. One button sends the whole kit to your Amazon cart.

Amazon sells the physical items, sets their prices and availability, and may pay us a commission. The free museum file is separate. How we get paid →

How big can you print it?

Standard frame sizes, turned to match the artwork. "Crops" is how much of the picture you lose filling that frame edge to edge — or keep it all and let a mat take up the difference.

Frame	Effective dpi	Verdict	Crops
8 × 10 in	352	Gallery sharp	5%
11 × 14 in	256	Sharp up close	4%
12 × 16 in	232	Sharp up close	1%
16 × 20 in	176	Poster sharp	5%
18 × 24 in	155	Poster sharp	1%
24 × 36 in	103	Fine across a room	12%
30 × 40 in	93	Too soft	1%

Will it fit over your couch? Put this one on your wall, to scale — crop or mat, frame size, hang height and the order.

The ticket

Bust of Man (from Sketchbook) is a work on paper by James McNeill Whistler (American, Lowell, Massachusetts 1834–1903 London), dated 1854–55. Brown ink on off-white wove paper. Size on the museum record: 2 1/2 x 2 3/4 in. (6.4 x 7 cm). The Metropolitan Museum of Art holds it in its The American Wing collection — Gift of Margaret C. Buell, Helen L. King, and Sybil A. Walk, 1970.

In The Met's records, Bust of Man (from Sketchbook) is a brown ink on off-white wove paper credited to James McNeill Whistler. The museum dates it 1854–55, and files it under accession 1970.121.42 in The American Wing. The subject is a person, so the face is the anchor. Hang it with the eyes near the centre line instead of floating high on the wall. The Met's scan measures 2,817 × 3,722 pixels, which prints about 9.4 × 12.4 in at 300 dpi and 18.8 × 24.8 in at a still-comfortable 150 dpi. Because it runs tall, it wants a vertical frame; compare the crop percentage across sizes before you choose. It is close to monochrome, so the frame sets the mood: black for contrast, white for air, or a thin natural wood for warmth. Works on paper are quiet. Print near the original's scale instead of blowing it up, and keep it out of direct sun like the museum does. Light it from above with a soft warm bulb, hang the centre of the picture near 57 inches, and it will read as intended instead of as decoration.

The Met released its scan under CC0, which means no permission, no fee and no credit line required. That file is 2,817 × 3,722 pixels — 10.5 megapixels — good for a gallery-sharp print up to 9.4 × 12.4 in. That is bigger than the work on paper itself, which measures about 2.8 × 2.5 in — the file holds more detail than you can see standing in front of the original.Works on paper are quiet. Print near the original’s size rather than blowing it up, mat it generously, and keep it out of direct sun — the same rules the museum follows for the real one.