The Artist James Abbott McNeill Whistler
A key figure in the Aesthetic movement
James McNeill Whistler, a groundbreaking American artist, was born in Lowell, Massachusetts, USA, on July 11, 1834. Whistler's father, George Washington, was a civil engineer, and his mother, Anna McNeill, was an artist.
When Whistler was 11, he stayed with his father in Russia, who had acquired a job as a contractor. While there, his art training began along with his traditional schooling. But he would return to America for some time after his father passed away at 49. Once back in America, his true love, art, was placed on hold while he attended a ministry school as well as West Point. His time at both schools was unsuccessful, leading him to finally admit that art was his true love.
Whistler would move back to Europe for good to study art. There, he attended the Royal Academy of Art in London and received numerous awards and honors for his work. Although he was exposed to the work of the Impressionist movement, he developed his style, characterized by a focus on simplicity and harmony. He became known for his portraits, landscapes, and etchings. Some of Whistler's most famous works include "Whistler's Mother" (officially titled "Arrangement in Grey and Black No. 1") and "The White Girl".
Whistler passed away on July 17, 1903, at 69. His impact on the evolution of contemporary art has cemented his place in history, earning him recognition as one of America's premier artists of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
About James Abbott McNeill Whistler
| Birth Date | July 11, 1834, Lowell, Massachusetts |
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| Date Died | July 17, 1903, London, United Kingdom |
| Jobs Other Than Painting | Worked as a Draftsman for the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey |
| Art Training | Classes at the Imperial Academy of Sciences in Russia (while his dad had a civil engineer job there). |
| Painting Period(s) | Aestheticism, Modern Art |
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