James McNeill Whistler

James Abbott McNeill Whistler was an American artist known for his innovative painting style and eccentric personality.

Painter

July 11, 1834

Cancer

July 17, 1903

69

Lowell, Massachusetts

James Abbott McNeill Whistler (1834-1903) was an American-born British artist renowned for his innovative style and significant contributions to the aesthetic movement. His most famous painting, “Whistler’s Mother” (1871), portrays his mother in a simplistic and refined manner. Other notable works by Whistler include “Nocturne in Black and Gold: The Falling Rocket” (1875), “Arrangement in Grey and Black No. 2: Portrait of Thomas Carlyle” (1872), and “Harmony in Blue and Gold: The Peacock Room” (1877). A strong advocate for the “art for art’s sake” philosophy, Whistler believed that art should exist purely for its own sake. He was an active member of the historic “Society of British Artists” and authored “The Ten O’Clock Lecture.” Whistler’s work is still celebrated for its groundbreaking style, and he is remembered for his eccentric personality. Notably, he was a crucial figure in modern art and a precursor to the Post-Impressionist movement.