James Abbott McNeill Whistler was an American artist who worked primarily in the United Kingdom. His birthplace in Massachusetts is now a museum dedicated to him. His father was a talented train driver and the family moved to St. Petersburg in 1842, because of a good job offer. Whistler struggled as a child with irascible fits, bouts of illness, as well as periods of extreme fatigue - drawing helped him stay alert. He received private art lessons and attended the Russian Academy of Art at age eleven. In 1844 he met the Scottish painter Sir William Allan, who called him a "rare genius." His brother-in-law, surgeon and painter Sir Francis Seymour Haden, spurred him on to a career in painting and gave him his first set of watercolors. After his father's death, the family returned to the United States and Whistler applied to the United States Military Academy, where, however, he became known more for his sarcastic comments and dislike of authority. However, he did learn cartography there, which helped him land his first job: pattern draftsman for military and naval purposes.
In 1855 he traveled to Paris and studied there briefly, but he preferred to study on his own and copy works of art at the Louvre. There he also met the French painter Henri Henri Fantin-Latour, who in turn introduced him to Gustave Courbet, leader of the Realism movement, and his circle. Among them were Charles Baudelaire, whose theories greatly influenced Whistler, and Théophile Gautier, who inspired him to see music in art. Many of his works bear names such as "Arrangements," "Harmonies," and "Nocturnes." Among his most famous works is "Arrangement in Gray and Black No. 1," better known as "Whistler's Mother," which is on display at the Louvre Abu Dhabi. At the time, the work was negatively received for its lack of sentimentality. Whistler is generally considered averse to sentimentality and moral allusions in paintings, being an advocate of "art for art's sake." The artist also had a special interest in Asian art, studying ceramics, which is how he came up with his characteristic signature, reminiscent of a butterfly.
After the death of his mother in 1881, he took his mother's maiden name as a middle name. He became a member, and later president, of the Society of British Artists, even Queen Victoria expressed her admiration for the artist's illustrations. He made other important friendships with Monet, Rodin and Toulouse-Lautrec. Overall, he counts as an inspiration of several generations of artists in Europe and the U.S. and had lively exchanges with Impressionists, Realists and Symbolists.
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.jpg "Nocturne in Black and Gold: The Falling Rocket, 1875 by James Abbott McNeill Whistler")
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.jpg "Arrangement in Grey and Black No. 1 or Portrait of the Artist")
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.jpg "Blue and Silver: Trouville, c. 1865 by James Abbott McNeill Whistler")
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.jpg "Nocturne in Grey and Gold: Chelsea Snow, 1876 by James Abbott McNeill Whistler")
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.jpg "Nocturne in Blue and Silver by James Abbott McNeill Whistler")
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.jpg "Nocturne: Cremorne Lights by James Abbott McNeill Whistler")
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.jpg "Nocturne - Blue and Gold - Southampton Water by James Abbott McNeill Whistler")
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.jpg "Harmony in Flesh Colour and Red by James Abbott McNeill Whistler")
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.jpg "Nocturne - Blue and Silver by James Abbott McNeill Whistler")
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 (see also 106898) - (MeisterDrucke-205236).jpg "Symphony in White, No. III, 1865-7 (without frame) by James Abbott McNeill Whistler")
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.jpg "Symphony in White, No. 1: The White Girl, 1862 by James Abbott McNeill Whistler")
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.jpg "Sunset: Venice, c. 1880, 1903-1904 by James Abbott McNeill Whistler")
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.jpg "Harmony in Blue and Silver: Beaching the Boat, Étretat, c. 1897 by James Abbott McNeill Whistler")
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.jpg "Man smoking a pipe, c. 1859 by James Abbott McNeill Whistler")
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.jpg "Nocturne, Blue and Gold, St. Mark")
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.jpg "Portrait of Theodore Duret, 1883 by James Abbott McNeill Whistler")
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.jpg "Nocturne: Blue and Gold - Old Battersea Bridge, c1872-5 by James Abbott McNeill Whistler")
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.jpg "Nocturne in Blue and Gold - Valparaiso by James Abbott McNeill Whistler")
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.jpg "Sketch of a Woman by James Abbott McNeill Whistler")
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.jpg "A Foggy Night in London by James Abbott McNeill Whistler")
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.jpg "Vase with slightly bulging body by James Abbott McNeill Whistler")
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.jpg "The Princess from the Land of Porcelain by James Abbott McNeill Whistler")
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.jpg "Green and Blue: The Dancer by James Abbott McNeill Whistler")
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.jpg "St. Ives: Sunset by James Abbott McNeill Whistler")
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.jpg "Vase with slightly bulging body by James Abbott McNeill Whistler")
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.jpg "The Ocean Wave, 1883-1884 by James Abbott McNeill Whistler")
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.jpg "Nocturne: Blue and Silver—Battersea Reach by James Abbott McNeill Whistler")
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.jpg "Square Canister with Expanding Neck by James Abbott McNeill Whistler")
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.jpg "Oviform Ginger Jar with Bell-shaped cover by James Abbott McNeill Whistler")
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.jpg "Irving as Philip of Spain, No. 2 by James Abbott McNeill Whistler")
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.jpg "Arrangement in Grey and Black No. 1 (Portrait of the Artist")
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.jpg "The Shore, Pourville, 19th century by James Abbott McNeill Whistler")
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.jpg "Jo")
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.jpg "F.R. Leyland")
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.jpg "Auguste Delâtre by James Abbott McNeill Whistler")
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.jpg "The Princess from the Land of Porcelain by James Abbott McNeill Whistler")
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.jpg "The Little Velvet Dress by James Abbott McNeill Whistler")
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.jpg "Axenfeld by James Abbott McNeill Whistler")
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 - (MeisterDrucke-249945).jpg "Nude Figure Reclining, c. 1885-88 by James Abbott McNeill Whistler")
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.jpg "Reading a Book by James Abbott McNeill Whistler")
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.jpg "The Kitchen, from The French Set by James Abbott McNeill Whistler")
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.jpg "Liverdun from Twelve Etchings from Nature by James Abbott McNeill Whistler")
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.jpg "Under Old Battersea Bridge by James Abbott McNeill Whistler")
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.jpg "The Forge from Sixteen Etchings of Scenes on the Thames and Other Subjects by James Abbott McNeill Whistler")
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.jpg "The White Girl, 1862 by James Abbott McNeill Whistler")
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.jpg "Nocturne by James Abbott McNeill Whistler")
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.jpg "Firelight: Joseph Pennell No. 1 by James Abbott McNeill Whistler")
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![[76] Impressions from cancelled plates by Whistler - [Young Woman Lying on Couch]. by James Abbott McNeill Whistler](/kunstwerke/300px/James_McNeill_Whistler_-_76_Impressions_from_cancelled_plates_by_Whistler_-_Young_Woman_Lying_on_Couch_-_(MeisterDrucke-1337065).jpg "[76] Impressions from cancelled plates by Whistler - [Young Woman Lying on Couch]. by James Abbott McNeill Whistler")
![[76] Impressions from cancelled plates by Whistler - [Young Woman Lying on Couch]. by James Abbott McNeill Whistler](/kunstwerke/400w/James_McNeill_Whistler_-_76_Impressions_from_cancelled_plates_by_Whistler_-_Young_Woman_Lying_on_Couch_-_(MeisterDrucke-1337065).jpg)
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1743739).jpg "Girl in Black (Pouting Tom) by James Abbott McNeill Whistler")
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.jpg "The Pool by James Abbott McNeill Whistler")
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.jpg "Greenwich Pensioner by James Abbott McNeill Whistler")
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.jpg "Success of Ernesti in Cologne by James Abbott McNeill Whistler")
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.jpg "A Wharf by James Abbott McNeill Whistler")
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.jpg "Hurlingham by James Abbott McNeill Whistler")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-1334776).jpg "The Little Venice, from the First Venice Set (Venice, A Series of Twelve Etchings) by James Abbott McNeill Whistler")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-1338632).jpg "The Little Lagoon, from the First Venice Set by James Abbott McNeill Whistler")
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.jpg "Portrait Study by James Abbott McNeill Whistler")
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.jpg "Study for Arrangement in Grey and Black, No. 2: Thomas Carlyle, 1872-73 by James Abbott McNeill Whistler")
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_1872-73_-_(MeisterDrucke-1470728).jpg "Arrangement in Grey and Black, No. 2: Portrait of Thomas Carlyle (1795-1881) 1872-73 by James Abbott McNeill Whistler")
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.jpg "Drouet by James Abbott McNeill Whistler")
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.jpg "Becquet by James Abbott McNeill Whistler")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-1246793).jpg "The Title Page for")
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.jpg "St James’s Street in London by James Abbott McNeill Whistler")
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.jpg "Encamping by James Abbott McNeill Whistler")
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![[76] Impressions from cancelled plates by Whistler - [Two Figures]. by James Abbott McNeill Whistler](/kunstwerke/300px/James_McNeill_Whistler_-_76_Impressions_from_cancelled_plates_by_Whistler_-_Two_Figures_-_(MeisterDrucke-1337150).jpg "[76] Impressions from cancelled plates by Whistler - [Two Figures]. by James Abbott McNeill Whistler")
![[76] Impressions from cancelled plates by Whistler - [Two Figures]. by James Abbott McNeill Whistler](/kunstwerke/400w/James_McNeill_Whistler_-_76_Impressions_from_cancelled_plates_by_Whistler_-_Two_Figures_-_(MeisterDrucke-1337150).jpg)
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1741900).jpg "Becquet, from the series “Sixteen Etchings” by James Abbott McNeill Whistler")
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 (see also 324669) - (MeisterDrucke-163848).jpg "The Model Resting, 1870 (detail) by James Abbott McNeill Whistler")
 (see also 324669) - (MeisterDrucke-163848).jpg)
.jpg "Horse Race by James Abbott McNeill Whistler")
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.jpg "Waiting for the Laundry to Dry! Cologne by James Abbott McNeill Whistler")
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.jpg "Nocturne in Black and Gold: The Falling Rocket by James Abbott McNeill Whistler")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-1258449).jpg "Battersea Dawn (Cadogan Pier) by James Abbott McNeill Whistler")
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.jpg "Early Morning, Battersea Battersea Dawn Cadogan Pier by James Abbott McNeill Whistler")
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.jpg "Nocturne in Blue and Silver: Chelsea by James Abbott McNeill Whistler")
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.jpg "Arrangement in Grey and Black, No. 2: Thomas Carlyle, c. 1872 by James Abbott McNeill Whistler")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-573750).jpg "Harmony in Flesh Colour and Black: Portrait of Miss Louise Jopling (1843-1933) by James Abbott McNeill Whistler")
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.jpg "Free Trade Wharf in London by James Abbott McNeill Whistler")
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.jpg "Black and Gold, Venice, c. 1860, 1904 by James Abbott McNeill Whistler")
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.jpg "La Vielle aux Loques, from the French Set (Douze Eaux-Fortes) by James Abbott McNeill Whistler")
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.jpg "Annie from Twelve Etchings from Nature by James Abbott McNeill Whistler")
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.jpg "The Pool, from Sixteen Etchings of Scenes on the Thames by James Abbott McNeill Whistler")
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.jpg "Study for Arrangement in Grey and Black, No. 2: Portrait of Thomas Carlyle, 1872-73 by James Abbott McNeill Whistler")
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_from_the_Thames_Set_(A_Series_of_Sixteen_Etchings_-_(MeisterDrucke-1336942).jpg "Battersea Dawn (Cadogan Pier), from the Thames Set (A Series of Sixteen Etchings of Scenes on the Thames and Other Subjects) by James Abbott McNeill Whistler")
_from_the_Thames_Set_(A_Series_of_Sixteen_Etchings_-_(MeisterDrucke-1336942).jpg)
_from_the_Thames_Set_(A_Series_of_Sixteen_Etchings_-_(MeisterDrucke-1339523).jpg "Battersea Dawn (Cadogan Pier), from the Thames Set by James Abbott McNeill Whistler")
_from_the_Thames_Set_(A_Series_of_Sixteen_Etchings_-_(MeisterDrucke-1339523).jpg)
.jpg "San Giorgio from The Second Venice Set by James Abbott McNeill Whistler")
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.jpg "The Pool, from the Thames Set (A Series of Sixteen Etchings of Scenes on the Thames and Other Subjects) by James Abbott McNeill Whistler")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-1365291).jpg "The Long Lagoon (Second Venice Set) by James Abbott McNeill Whistler")
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.jpg "The Little Nude Model, Reading, 1889-1890 by James Abbott McNeill Whistler")
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_from_the_Thames_Set_(A_Series_of_Sixteen_Etchin_-_(MeisterDrucke-1339943).jpg "J. Becquet, Sculptor (The Fiddler), from the Thames Set (A Series of Sixteen Etchings of Scenes on the Thames and Other Subjects) by James Abbott McNeill Whistler")
_from_the_Thames_Set_(A_Series_of_Sixteen_Etchin_-_(MeisterDrucke-1339943).jpg)
.jpg "St. James")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-1630591).jpg "Standing Figure with Fan, c.1873/1876 by James Abbott McNeill Whistler")
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_from_the_Thames_Set_(A_Series_of_Sixteen_Etchings_-_(MeisterDrucke-1358849).jpg "Thames Police, from the Thames Set (A Series of Sixteen Etchings of Scenes on the Thames and Other Subjects) by James Abbott McNeill Whistler")
_from_the_Thames_Set_(A_Series_of_Sixteen_Etchings_-_(MeisterDrucke-1358849).jpg)
.jpg "Study for")
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.jpg "Nocturne in Black and Gold: Entrance to Southampton Water, c.1875-76 by James Abbott McNeill Whistler")
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.jpg "The Unsafe Tenement from")
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 - (MeisterDrucke-267602).jpg "Group of four men, 1858 by James Abbott McNeill Whistler")
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.jpg "Old Westminster Bridge by James Abbott McNeill Whistler")
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 (see also 324690) - (MeisterDrucke-268899).jpg "St. James")
 (see also 324690) - (MeisterDrucke-268899).jpg)
 (see also 324643 324644) - (MeisterDrucke-264948).jpg "Finette, 1859 by James Abbott McNeill Whistler")
 (see also 324643 324644) - (MeisterDrucke-264948).jpg)
 c1834-1948 - (MeisterDrucke-283237).jpg "Symphony in Grey and Brown (Lindsey Row, Chelsea), c.1834-1948 by James Abbott McNeill Whistler")
 c1834-1948 - (MeisterDrucke-283237).jpg)
.jpg "Red and Black: The Fan, 1891-94 by James Abbott McNeill Whistler")
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