The Life of James McNeill Whistler

Whistler came back to No. 74 Cheyne Walk, to the noise of building, to the bedroom at the top of the house--to the conditions against which the doctor's warning was emphatic. Wh...

As soon as Whistler got away from London he was unhappy. At Tangier the wind was icy, at Algiers it rained, and everywhere when it was clear the sky was "hard" and the sea was "...

In the autumn of 1898 a circular issued in Paris created a sensation in the studios. Whistler was going to open a school, the _Académie Whistler_. The announcement was made by h...

In the spring of 1900 an event of great importance in our relations with Whistler occurred. Towards the end of May he asked us to write his Life. Now that his fame was establish...

"Whistler laughed all his troubles away," it has been said. When the Academy rejected him, and the critics sneered at his pictures hung in other galleries, and the public took t...

It was late in 1866 when Whistler returned from Valparaiso. Soon after he moved into No. 2,[4] at the east end of Lindsey Row, now No. 96 Cheyne Walk. It was a three-storey hous...

John Ruskin, leader of taste, critic of art, prophet, and propounder of the gospel of "the Beautiful," led not only a devout following, but that enormous public which believes b...

Whistler arrived in Paris in the summer of 1855. There he fell among friends. The American Legation was open to the son of Major Whistler. It was the year of the first Internati...

Whistler, in 1860, devoted more time to painting on the river and less to etching, though the _Rotherhithe_ belongs to this year. One picture he described in a letter to Fantin....

In 1843, when Whistler was nine years old, Major Whistler sent for his wife and children. Mrs. Whistler sailed from Boston in the _Arcadia_, August 12, 1843, taking with her Deb...

On May 26, 1881, Mr. Cole "met Jimmie, who is taking a new studio in Tite Street, where he is going to paint all the fashionables; views of crowds competing for sittings; carria...

After his marriage Whistler was unfortunate in his choice of apartments and studios. The Studio in the Rue Notre-Dame-des-Champs, on the sixth floor, was the worst for a man wit...

In Whistler's correspondence with Fantin between 1860 and 1865, published in part by M. Bénédite in the _Gazette des Beaux-Arts_ (1905), it can be seen that he was outgrowing th...

In the autumn of 1884, Whistler joined the Society of British Artists. Years later, when a British Artist was dining with us, Whistler came in. "A delightful evening," he said,...

Whistler went to live in Paris again in 1892. Moving from London was a complicated affair, and, during several months, he and Mrs. Whistler and his sister-in-law, Mrs. Whibley,...

The world owed him a living, Whistler said, but it was not until 1891 that the world began to pay the debt with the purchase of the _Carlyle_ for Glasgow and the _Mother_ for th...

While Whistler was painting the Nocturnes, he was working on the large portraits. The _Mother_ was the first. We cannot say when he began it. He wrote of it to Fantin, promising...

Whistler's first house in London was No. 7 Lindsey Row, Chelsea, now 101 Cheyne Walk. It adjoins the old palace of Lord Lindsey, which still stands, the original building divide...

Whistler stayed a short time at Hampstead with his sisters-in-law, and then went to Mr. Heinemann at Whitehall Court, where he remained, on and off, for two or three years, spen...

For years Whistler's letters to the papers puzzled the people. George Moore laboured to account for them in _Modern Painting_ by an elaborate theory of physical feebleness, and...

Into _The Ten O'Clock_ Whistler put all he had learned of art, all he knew to be unchangeable and everlasting. Mr. W. C. Alexander has told us that when he listened to _The Ten...

According to the constitution of the British Artists the President, though elected in June, does not take office until December. Whistler presided for the first time on December...

For a year after the exhibition in Pall Mall, Whistler did not show any paintings. Artists said his pictures were not serious because not finished. Whistler retorted that theirs...

It was now that Whistler began his endless journeys between Paris and London. At first he stayed with his sister, Lady Haden, at 62 Sloane Street, sometimes bringing with him He...

A tedious annoyance was caused by Du Maurier's _Trilby_ in _Harper's Magazine_. Du Maurier represented the English students at Carrel's (Gleyre's) as veritable Crichtons, while...

Whistler said he could not afford to keep a friend, but he was never without many. A photograph taken in his studio in 1881 shows him the centre of a group, of whom the others a...

Official recognition of Whistler in England was followed by official honours abroad. While President of the British Artists he was asked for the first time to show in the Intern...

That artists should hold Exhibitions of International Art was Whistler's idea. He had always hoped for a gallery where he could show his work in his own way with the work of men...

"Well, you know, I was just home; nobody had seen me, and I drove up in a hansom. Nobody expected me. In one hand I held my long cane; with the other I led by a ribbon a beautif...

The stories cannot be left out of Whistler's life as a student, for they lived in his memory. The English students brought back the impression that he was an idler, the French t...

For years Whistler wanted to go to Venice. When he got there he found it a difficult place to work in. It was cold, and he felt the cold. It is almost impossible to hold a coppe...

Whistler's financial affairs were in hopeless confusion. The builder's estimate for the White House was largely exceeded, the cost of the trial had to be paid for, the _atelier_...

After our triumph Whistler went to Paris and Boldini painted his portrait, shown in the International Exhibition of 1900. It was done in a very few sittings. Mr. Kennedy, who we...

After this summer, we both saw still more of Whistler whenever we were in Paris. At the Rue du Bac we were struck by the few French artists at his Sunday afternoons and the pred...

When Whistler left West Point in 1854 he had not only to face the disappointment of his mother, but to find another career. The plan now was to apprentice him to Mr. Winans, in...

Many exhibitions had been organised in opposition to the Royal Academy, but on too small a scale to contend against that rich and powerful institution. Sir Coutts Lindsay, the f...

Nothing in Whistler's life is more astonishing than the praise and blame raised by the Venetian pastels on their exhibition in London. Artists fought over them. To some, they we...

In the Paris Universal Exhibition of 1878, Whistler's only exhibit was the section of a room that may have been his design for Mr. Alexander, or more likely was his decoration f...

Though Whistler's mother was proud of his drawing, she did not see in art a career for him. She thought he had inherited a profession more distinguished. Many Whistlers and McNe...

In 1885 Whistler moved from Tite Street to 454 Fulham Road. A shabby gate opened on a shabby lane leading to studios, one of which was his. Here Lady Archibald Campbell's and M....

Whistler was the first to paint the night. The blue mystery that veils the world from dusk to dawn is in the colour-prints of Hiroshige. But the wood-block cannot give the depth...

Whistler, in the witness-box during the suit he brought against Ruskin in 1878, gave St. Petersburg as his birthplace--or the reporters did--and he never denied it. Baltimore wa...

These years were full, for though few large paintings were completed, there were many small oils, water-colours, pastels, etchings, and lithographs. Whistler, going and coming i...

Mr. Sickert's article was ostensibly inspired by the show of J.'s lithographs of Granada at the Fine Art Society's, which Whistler had introduced. Whistler understood it to be a...

DRAWING IN WASH FOR "A CATALOGUE OF BLUE AND WHITE NANKIN PORCELAIN, FORMING THE COLLECTION OF SIR HENRY THOMPSON." LONDON: ELLIS AND WHITE. 1878 216 In the possession of Pickfo...

"I don't marry," Whistler said, "though I tolerate those who do." But before he left the British Artists' he did marry. His wife was Beatrix Godwin, widow of E. W. Godwin, the a...

It was in the summer of 1884 that J. met Whistler. Up to this time we have had to rely upon what Whistler and those who knew him have told us. Henceforward we write from our own...

"The boys were brought up like little princes until their father's death, which changed everything," Miss Emma W. Palmer writes us. Major Whistler's salary was large, so were hi...

_Takes a Studio at No. 13 Tite Street--His "Joyousness"-- Letters to the Press--His "Amazing" Costumes--Portrait of Lady Meux--His Other Sitters--Mrs. Marzetti's Account of the...

_Whistler authorises J. and E. R. Pennell to write his Life and Mr. Heinemann to publish it--Whistler gives his Reminiscences--Photographing began in Studio--Paris Universal Exh...

_Return to London--Removal to No. 2 Lindsey Row--The House and its Decorations--The 1867 Exhibition in Paris-- Affair at the Burlington Fine Arts Club--"Symphony in White, No. I...

_School opened in the Passage Stanislas, Paris--Whistler and Mr. Frederick MacMonnies propose to visit it--History of the School written, at Whistler's request, by Mrs. Clifford...

_The "Carlyle" bought by the Glasgow Corporation--"The Mother" bought for the Luxembourg--The Exhibition at the Goupil Gallery --Mr. D. Croal Thomson's Account--Success of the E...

_Approached by the British Artists--Elected a Member of the Society--His Position as Artist at this Period and the Position of the Society--Reasons for the Invitation and his Ac...

_Return to London and Sudden Appearance at Fine Art Society's-- Prints Venice Plates--Exhibition of "The Twelve" at the Fine Art Society's--Exhibition of Venice Pastels--Decorat...

_Whistler writes the "Ten O'Clock"--Proposes to publish it as Article--Then to deliver it as Lecture in Ireland--Exhibition of his Work in Dublin--Arranges with Mrs. D'Oyly Cart...

_Illness in Paris--Fever of Work--Portrait of Mr. George Vanderbilt--Other Portraits and Models--Pictures of Children-- Nudes--Pastels--Spanish War--Journey to Italy--"Best Man"...

_Tangier--Algiers--Marseilles--Ajaccio--Winter in Corsica-- Visit from Mr. Heinemann--Dominoes--Rests for the First Time-- Return to London in the Spring--Work in the Summer--Il...

_Paris Universal Exhibition of 1878--Harmony in Yellow and Gold--Whistler as Decorator--Lady Archibald Campbell's Appreciation--Plan for Opening an Atelier for Students-- No. 2...

_Whistler's Reasons for the Action against Ruskin--His Position and Ruskin's compared--Refusal of Artists to support Whistler--Trial in the Exchequer Chamber, Westminster-- Verd...

_Whistler again at the Grosvenor--His Critics--His Financial Embarrassments--His Manner of meeting them--Declared Bankrupt --"The Gold Scab"--Commission from the Fine Art Societ...

_Whistler as President--His Decoration of the Gallery and Hanging of Pictures--Indignation by Members--Visit of the Prince of Wales--Growing Dissatisfaction in the Society--Jubi...

_Honours from Paris, Munich, and Amsterdam--Dinner to Whistler --Paris Universal Exhibition of 1889--Exhibition of Whistler's Work in Queen Square--Moves to No. 21 Cheyne Walk--...

_The International Society of Sculptors, Painters, and Gravers-- Whistler elected First President--Activity of his Interest-- First Exhibition at Knightsbridge--Second Exhibitio...

_Sir Coutt Lindsay's New Gallery--First Exhibition at the Grosvenor--Whistler's Contributions--Ruskin's Criticism of "The Falling Rocket" in "Fors Clavigera"--Whistler sues him...

_Whistler goes to Paris to live--Joseph Pennell with him there in 1892 and 1893--Lithographs--Colour work--Studio in Rue Notre-Dame-des-Champs--Apartment in the Rue du Bac--Etch...

_Work at Exhibitions and in the Studio--Portrait of Irving --"Rosa Corder"--"The Fur Jacket"--"Connie Gilchrist"-- The Peacock Room--Mr. Leyland's House in Prince's Gate-- Its D...

_Whistler's Arrival in Venice--First Impressions-- Disappointments and Difficulties--His Friends in Venice and their Memories of him--Duveneck and his "Boys"--Whistler's Hard Wo...

_Work and Little Journeys--Mr. E. G. Kennedy's Reminiscences-- Evenings with Whistler--Visit to the National Gallery-- Whistler goes to live with Mr. Heinemann at Whitehall Cour...

_Settles with his Mother at No. 7 Lindsey Row, Chelsea-- The Greaves Family--The Limerston Street Studio and Mr. J. E. Christie--Rossetti--The Tudor House Circle, Swinburne, Mer...

_The Japanese Pictures--"The Princesse du Pays de la Porcelaine"--Japanese Influence--"The Little White Girl" --Fantin's "Hommage à Delacroix"--"The Toast"--Arrival in London of...

_Whistler Collects his Letters and Writings--Work begun by Mr. Sheridan Ford--Mr. J. McLure Hamilton's Account--Action at Antwerp to suppress Ford's Edition--Mr. Heinemann publi...