James McNeill Whistler was an American artist famous for his paintings of still life subjects, his portrait of Abraham Lincoln, and his design of the majolica pottery known as "Whistler's Ware". Born in Lowell, Massachusetts, he was the oldest of six children. He studied art at the Lowell Institute in Boston. He traveled to Europe in 1871, where he settled in London
His success there was assured by the success of his first solo exhibition in 1877. The following year he returned to America and lived for a time in New York City. Whistler's famous portrait of Abraham Lincoln hangs in the U.S.
Capitol Rotunda, Washington D.C., as does one of his paintings of famous American women.
Oscar Wilde: "I wish I had said that." Whistler: "You will, Oscar; you will.James McNeill Whistler
Two and two continue to make four in spite of the whine of the amateur for three or the cry of the critic for five.James McNeill Whistler
Nature is usually wrong.James McNeill Whistler
To say to the painter that Nature is to be taken as she is is to say to the player that he may sit on the piano.James McNeill Whistler
