The viewpoint of this painting looks out over the River
Thames from Battersea Bridge, which at this point divides Battersea
and Chelsea. The orange lights of Cremorne Gardens, which had opened
in 1836 as a place of popular entertainment, are reflected in the
water to the right.
Whistler applies paint in thin, transparent layers to
evoke the mood and atmosphere on the Thames as the light falls.
James McNeill Whistler
Nocturne: Blue and Silver - Cremorne Lights 1872
Oil on canvas.
Tate. Bequeathed by Arthur Studd 1919
This dramatic painting shows the climax of the daily
firework display in Cremorne Gardens. Three figures stand in the
foreground watching the rockets and flares light up the night sky.
Between 1845 and 1877, when complaints about noise forced it to
close down, Cremorne Gardens was a popular place of entertainment,
offering evening dances, balloon ascents and circus shows.
Whistler sued Ruskin for libel when he compared this
painting to 'flinging a pot of paint in the public's face'. During
the subsequent trial Whistler defended his masterpiece, saying 'It
is an artistic arrangement. That is why I call it a 'nocturne''.
Listen to excerpt from Audio Tour
James McNeill Whistler
Nocturne in Black and Gold: The Falling Rocket 1875
Oil on canvas.
Lent by the Detroit Institute of Arts
Flash version
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