James McNeill Whistler, Arrangement in gray: portrait of the painter, ca.
Known colloquially asWhistler’s Mother,Arrangement in Grey and Black No.
1has captivated viewers with its understated simplicity and straightforward composition for nearly 150 years.
James McNeill Whistler, “Arrangement in gray: portrait of the painter,” ca. 1872 (Photo:Wikimedia CommonsPublic Domain)
Want to learn more about this iconic artist?
Here are five facts about James McNeill Whistler.
He developed an interest in art as a child living in Russia.
William Edward Kilburn, Daguerreotype of James McNeil Whistler, ca. 1847-1849(Photo:Wikimedia CommonsPublic Domain)
William Edward Kilburn, Daguerreotype of James McNeil Whistler, ca.
While his skillfully drawn work showed promise, he was repeatedly late and notoriously lazy.
After these unsuccessful stints, he decided to pursue art as a profession.
James McNeill Whistler , Map of the Western Hemisphere (from Sketchbook), 1851(Photo:The Metropolitan Museum of ArtPublic Domain)
He gave his paintings titles inspired by music terminology.
Nocturne, harmony, and symphony are just some of the terms Whistler opted to feature in his titles.
1as an earlyand particularly well-known example.
James McNeill Whistler, “Nocturne in Black and Gold – The Falling Rocket,” 1875 (Photo:Wikimedia CommonsPublic Domain)
There’s anArrangement in Grey and Black No.
James McNeill Whistler, Arrangement in Grey and Black No.
1, 1871 (Photo:Wikimedia CommonsPublic Domain)
Arrangement in Grey and Black No.
James McNeill Whistler, “Arrangement in Grey and Black No. 1,” 1871 (Photo:Wikimedia CommonsPublic Domain)
1is a portrait of the artist’s mother, 67-year-oldAnna McNeill Whistler.
It was completed in 1871, five years after Whistler’s mother decided to join him in London.
This prompted him to commission Whistler to produceArrangement in Grey and Black No.
James McNeill Whistler, “Arrangement in Grey and Black No. 2,” 1873 (Photo:Wikimedia CommonsPublic Domain)
2,a copycat portrait starring Carlyle.
James McNeill Whistler, Arrangement in Grey and Black No.
His life was filled with feuds.
The Peacock Room (Photo:Wikimedia CommonsCC BY-SA 2.0)
2remains one of his most important portraits), not all of his relationships went well.
In fact, he frequently foughtand even fell out withfriends and fellow artists alike.
The most infamous of Whistler’s many feuds, however, was withFrederick Richards Leyland.
Leyland, an English shipping magnate, possessed a prolific collection of Chinese porcelain.
Well, you know, I just painted on, he recalled.
When Leyland learned about the liberties Whistler had taken, however, he did not share this joy.
In fact, he refused to pay Whistler in full.
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