James Abbott McNeill Whistler

1834–1903

James Abbott McNeill Whistler, ‘Nocturne: Blue and Silver - Chelsea’ 1871
Nocturne: Blue and Silver - Chelsea 1871
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2 artworks by James Abbott McNeill Whistler
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Biography

James Abbott McNeill Whistler (; July 11, 1834  – July 17, 1903) was an American artist, active during the American Gilded Age and based primarily in the United Kingdom. He was averse to sentimentality and moral allusion in painting, and was a leading proponent of the credo "art for art's sake". His famous signature for his paintings was in the shape of a stylized butterfly possessing a long stinger for a tail. The symbol was apt, for it combined both aspects of his personality: his art is characterized by a subtle delicacy, while his public persona was combative. He found a parallel between painting and music and entitled many of his paintings "arrangements", "harmonies", and "nocturnes", emphasizing the primacy of tonal harmony. His most famous painting is Arrangement in Grey and Black No. 1 (1871), commonly known as Whistler's Mother, the revered and often parodied portrait of motherhood. Whistler influenced the art world and the broader culture of his time with his artistic theories and his friendships with leading artists and writers.

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Aesthetic movement British impressionism

Artworks

Left Right
James Abbott McNeill Whistler, ‘Nocturne: Blue and Silver - Chelsea’ 1871

James Abbott McNeill Whistler Nocturne: Blue and Silver - Chelsea

1871
James Abbott McNeill Whistler, ‘Nocturne: Blue and Gold - Old Battersea Bridge’ c.1872–5

James Abbott McNeill Whistler Nocturne: Blue and Gold - Old Battersea Bridge

c.1872–5
On display at Tate Britain part of Walk Through British Art
James Abbott McNeill Whistler, ‘Symphony in White, No. 2: The Little White Girl’ 1864

James Abbott McNeill Whistler Symphony in White, No. 2: The Little White Girl

1864
On display at Tate Britain part of Walk Through British Art
James Abbott McNeill Whistler, ‘Nocturne: Black and Gold - The Fire Wheel’ 1875

James Abbott McNeill Whistler Nocturne: Black and Gold - The Fire Wheel

1875
James Abbott McNeill Whistler, ‘Harmony in Grey and Green: Miss Cicely Alexander’ 1872–4

James Abbott McNeill Whistler Harmony in Grey and Green: Miss Cicely Alexander

1872–4
James Abbott McNeill Whistler, ‘Crepuscule in Flesh Colour and Green: Valparaiso’ 1866

James Abbott McNeill Whistler Crepuscule in Flesh Colour and Green: Valparaiso

1866
On display at Tate Britain part of Walk Through British Art
James Abbott McNeill Whistler, ‘Nocturne: Blue and Silver - Cremorne Lights’ 1872

James Abbott McNeill Whistler Nocturne: Blue and Silver - Cremorne Lights

1872
James Abbott McNeill Whistler, ‘Three Figures: Pink and Grey’ 1868–78

James Abbott McNeill Whistler Three Figures: Pink and Grey

1868–78
On display at Tate Britain part of Walk Through British Art
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Artist as subject

Left Right
Sir William Nicholson, ‘James McNeill Whistler’ 1899

Sir William Nicholson James McNeill Whistler

1899
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Gary Hume, ‘Whistler’ 1998

Gary Hume Whistler

1998
Sir Max Beerbohm, ‘Blue China’ 1916

Sir Max Beerbohm Blue China

1916
Stanhope Alexander Forbes, recipient: Elizabeth Forbes, ‘Letter from Stanhope Forbes to Elizabeth Armstrong, addressed 11 Elgin Avenue, London’ 27 April 1887

Stanhope Alexander Forbes, recipient: Elizabeth Forbes Letter from Stanhope Forbes to Elizabeth Armstrong, addressed 11 Elgin Avenue, London

27 April 1887
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Stanhope Alexander Forbes, recipient: Elizabeth Forbes, ‘Letter from Stanhope Forbes to Elizabeth Armstrong, addressed 11 Elgin Avenue, London’ 13 April 1888

Stanhope Alexander Forbes, recipient: Elizabeth Forbes Letter from Stanhope Forbes to Elizabeth Armstrong, addressed 11 Elgin Avenue, London

13 April 1888
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Anita Bartle, Grant Richards (London, UK), ‘This is my Birthday’ 1902

Anita Bartle, Grant Richards (London, UK) This is my Birthday

1902
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Walter Richard Sickert, recipient: Ethel Sands, ‘Letter from Walter Sickert to Ethel Sands, addressed 26 Red Lion Square, London’ [August–September 1915]

Walter Richard Sickert, recipient: Ethel Sands Letter from Walter Sickert to Ethel Sands, addressed 26 Red Lion Square, London

[August–September 1915]
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Walter Richard Sickert, recipient: Ethel Sands, ‘Letter from Walter Sickert to Ethel Sands’ [c.July–August 1915]

Walter Richard Sickert, recipient: Ethel Sands Letter from Walter Sickert to Ethel Sands

[c.July–August 1915]
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Walter Richard Sickert, recipient: Ethel Sands, ‘Letter from Walter Sickert to Ethel Sands, addressed The Lodge, Entry Hill, Bath’ [c.1918]

Walter Richard Sickert, recipient: Ethel Sands Letter from Walter Sickert to Ethel Sands, addressed The Lodge, Entry Hill, Bath

[c.1918]
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See all 29

Film and audio

John Constable, ‘The Opening of Waterloo Bridge (‘Whitehall Stairs, June 18th, 1817’)’ exhibited 1832
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Features

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John Singer Sargent, ‘Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose’ 1885–6
Art Term

British impressionism

British impressionism describes the work of artists working in Britain in the late nineteenth-century who were influenced by the ideas ...

James Abbott McNeill Whistler, ‘Nocturne: Blue and Silver - Chelsea’ 1871
Art Term

Luminism

Luminism means roughly, the painting of light and is applied specifically to the American landscape painters of the Hudson River ...

James Abbott McNeill Whistler, ‘Harmony in Grey and Green: Miss Cicely Alexander’ 1872–4
Art Term

Tone

The lightness or darkness of something – this could be a shade, or how dark or light a colour appears

James Abbott McNeill Whistler, ‘Harmony in Grey and Green: Miss Cicely Alexander’ 1872–4
Art Term

Aesthetic movement

The aesthetic movement was a late nineteenth century movement that championed pure beauty and ‘art for art’s sake’ emphasising the ...

James Abbott McNeill Whistler, ‘Three Figures: Pink and Grey’ 1868–78
Art Term

Japonisme

Japonisme is a French term coined in the late nineteenth century to describe the craze for Japanese art and design ...

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Nigel Shafran Will Selfs’s office 2006
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