James Abbott McNeill Whistler (Whistler James Abbot McNeil)

(1834-1903)
Born July 10, 1834 in Lowell (pc. Mass.). In 1850-ies Whistler began making etchings, the first series which was published in 1858. In 1855 he went to Paris, where he studied painting with Charles Gleyre. Among the paintings of the early period of creativity Whistler - At the piano; coast of Brittany, Blue Wave. In 1860 he completed a second series of etchings - the Thames, for which won Baudelaire.
Since the late 1850's Whistler lived mainly in England, took part in the revolutionary events in Chile (during the Pacific War of 1864-1866 against Spain) and in 1866 in Valparaiso, wrote his first work, Nocturne. Then in the artist's life came the most productive time (1862-1878), . He sang several beautiful portraits, . including the famous portrait of a mother (1872, . Paris, . Museum п?'п·я€я?п?), . as well as portraits of Thomas Carlyle (1872-1873, . Glasgow City, . City Museum and Art Gallery) and Rosa Corder (1872-1877),
. In 1878 Whistler sued in 1000 to бё famous critic John Ruskin, made offensive statements about his work. The trial has ruined the artist, as compensation, he received only one farthing. This case Whistler described in his book The Fine Art of creating enemies (The Gentle Art of Making Enemies, 1890). Deprived of funds, Whistler traveled to Venice, where he made a series of exquisite and delicate etchings. Partly straightened financial situation, and to establish his reputation, he became in 1886 president of the Society of British Artists, but the constant striving for innovation and controversy has led to the fact that he was forced to resign from his post. Oil Paintings that Whistler began to write the end of 1870, did not bring him recognition. He bred paint to a very liquid consistency, trying to follow the prescriptions of Japanese painters, and his paintings were dark. In the Dutch series of etchings done in 1890, Whistler once again demonstrated his poetic vision of the world. He made several trips abroad, and also taught at the Academy of Carmen in Paris.