James Whistler
American Painter
1834-1903
Born in Lowell, Massachusetts, James Whistler became one of the most influential late 19th-century American painters and etchers. Whistler assimilated Japanese art styles, made technical innovations, and championed modern art, which did not make him popular among art critics at first.
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He spent part of his childhood in Russia where he studied art while his father helped design a railroad in St. Petersburg. Later, his family moved back to Connecticut and he entered West Point. While he was there he only seemed to study hard in his drawing classes. He did so poorly in his chemistry class that he flunked out of college.
After moving to Paris, Whistler spent his time painting and developed his skill. He traveled to South America and Italy, and he specialized in portraits and landscapes.
Throughout his life people thought him to be cantankerous and opinionated, he made many enemies in the art world. He even wrote an essay called "The Gentle Art of Making Enemies."
Toward the end of his life, when he lived in Paris, Whistler came to be regarded as a major artist. He died in London on July 17, 1903.