James McNeill Whistler - Avis

A biography of James McNeill Whistler (1834-1903), written especially for young readers. Whistler was born and educated in America but travelled widely in Europe as a young man, in part because his father had a contract to design railroads in Russia. After deciding upon art as a career, Whistler spent most of his life abroad, first in Paris, then in London, with side trips to Venice and elsewhere. Art critic and historian Avis Berman tells Whistler's story, and shows how the artist - a well-known wit and bon vivant, who once sued the English critic John Ruskin for making a derogatory remark in a review - was also one of the most inventive painters of the late 19th century. His greatest subjects were cityscapes - misty, atmospheric renderings, often painted at night. He is best known for his portraiture, to which he turned primarily as a way to make a living. In this book, Berman evokes Whistler's personality and innovative approach to creating art.