Sir William Nicholson

James McNeill Whistler

1899

Image released under Creative Commons CC-BY-NC-ND (3.0 Unported)

License this image

In Tate Britain

Prints and Drawings Room

View by appointment
Artist
Sir William Nicholson 1872–1949
Part of
Twelve Portraits (First Series)
Medium
Lithograph on paper
Dimensions
Image: 245 × 225 mm
Collection
Tate
Acquisition
Transferred from the Library 1979
Reference
P08156

Display caption

This striking image of Whistler was made for a book by Nicholson called, Twelve Portraits. Whistler was then at the height of his fame. Nicholson presents him impeccably dressed, standing at a distance from the viewer. He is set against a black background which highlights his white shirt, collar and eye-glass. The print pays tribute to Whistler’s reputation as the leading member of the Aesthetic Movement in this country.

Other Victorians chosen for Nicholson’s publication included WE Gladstone and Rudyard Kipling.

Gallery label, August 2004

Does this text contain inaccurate information or language that you feel we should improve or change? We would like to hear from you.

Explore

You might like

Left Right