James McNeill Whistler
1834–1903 · Symbolisme et Art nouveau
Biographie
James McNeill Whistler (1834–1903), artiste américain établi à Paris et à Londres, fut une figure majeure du mouvement esthétique et de sa devise « l’art pour l’art ». Son œuvre la plus célèbre est le portrait de sa mère.
Épisodes de sa vie
James McNeill Whistler (1834–1903), peintre américain actif à Paris et à Londres, défendit l’art pour l’art. Ses « symphonies » et « nocturnes » privilégient l’harmonie des tons sur le sujet.
Extrait de la page de Arrangement en gris et noir n° 1 (Portrait de la mère de l’artiste)
Whistler attached great importance to the choice of materials for his works. Many of his Venetian pastels, including Stormy Sunset, were made on quality brown pastel paper, a supply of which he had received as a gift from the London printer Thomas Way before his departure. Thanks to his creative productivity, he soon needed more sheets. Through an ingenious English artist he found a good number of coloured papers in a Venetian warehouse. As a result his later pastels of the city were made on bright pink, yellow and blue sheets. Whistler used two sets: one box contained his favourite, interestingly coloured smaller pieces of chalk, while he reserved the other box for his most important pictures.
Extrait de la page de Coucher de soleil orageux
