In the 1870s, James McNeill Whistler exhibited a series of paintings depicting the Thames at night. He focused on the stretch of river in Battersea seen from his Chelsea home, a view dominated by the industrial buildings of Morgan¡¯s Patent Plumbago Crucible Company (whose clock tower can be seen to the left of the canvas). The artist used a limited palette, thin layers of paint, and simple compositions inspired by Japanese woodblock prints. Originally referred to as moonlights, Whistler responded to his patron Frederick Leyland¡¯s suggestion that he retitle the paintings as nocturnes, a phrase commonly associated with the music of Fr¨¦d¨¦ric Chopin. Though first exhibited in 1878, Whistler did not add his famous butterfly signature to this painting until the early 1880s. Title Nocturne in Blue and Silver Creator James McNeill Whistler, 1834¨C1903, American, active in Britain (from 1859) Creator Lifespan 1834/1903 Creator Nationality American, active in Britain (from 1859) Creator Gender male Date Created 1872 to 1878, butterfly added ca. 1885 Physical Dimensions 17 1/2 x 24 inches (44.5 x 61 cm) Frame 27 1/4 x 33 3/8 x 2 5/8 inches (69.2 x 84.8 x 6.7 cm) Subject Keywords signature (name), marine art, town, waterfront, boat, factories, clock tower, buildings, river, shore (landform), lights, sea, blue, abstract art, night, darkness, industry, water, music, dark, seascape Medium Oil on canvas Repository Name Yale Center for British Art Credit Line Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Fund
