James McNeill Whistler

Paper Summary:

This paper provides an overview of James McNeill Whistler's life and works. The paper discusses the function of art according to the artist and presents an analysis of five of his works of art: "Symphony in White, No. 1"; "Harmony in Violet and White"; "Harmony in Violet and Yellow"; "The Lagoon: Nocturne in Blue and Silver" and "Arrangement in Grey and Black, No. 1: The Artist's Mother". A summary of the research is provided in the conclusion.
Outline
Introduction
Review and Discussion
Background and Overview.
The Function of Art according to Whistler.
Analysis and Discussion of Five Works of Art by Whistler.
Symphonies: "Symphony in White, No. 1."
Harmonies: "Harmony in Violet and White" and "Harmony in Violet and Yellow."
"Nocturnes."
Arrangement in Grey and Black No. 1: The Artist's Mother" ("Whistler's Mother").
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"James McNeill Whistler was born in 1834 in the industrial town of Lowell, Massachusetts (Julius 1995). The artist's youth and adolescent years were spent in Russia where his father was a civil engineer. Upon his return to the United States, Whistler was nominated for West Point, but his studies were lackluster and he was ultimately dismissed for a "deficiency in chemistry" (Julius 19). In an effort to satisfy his worried mother, Whistler took it upon himself to take his case to the top and visited Jefferson Davis, then Secretary of War, later the Confederate President, in Washington, DC and requested that he either be reinstated to the military academy or else find him a job. As a result, Whistler was assigned to perform coastal survey work as a cartographer where he learned the art of etching that would prove so beneficial to him later in his career (according to Julius, Whistler was acknowledged to be one of the finest etchers since Rembrandt)."

More papers on James McNeill Whistler:

• Analytical Essay # 123229 : "Art and Music in James Whistler"
• Descriptive Essay # 116500 : "Nocturne in Blue and Gold" By James Whistler"
• Essay # 67597 : "Impressionist Art"

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