Artwork Page for Nocturne

Details / Information for Nocturne

Nocturne

1878

James McNeill Whistler

(American, 1834–1903)
Culture
America
Medium
lithograph on chine collé
Measurements
Sheet: 17.1 x 26 cm (6 3/4 x 10 1/4 in.)
Credit Line
Bequest of Charles T. Brooks 1941.89
Catalogue raisonné
Way 5
State
only state
Public Domain
You can copy, modify, and distribute this work, all without asking permission. Learn more about CMA's Open Access Initiative.
Location
Not on view
Print

Description

Whistler was the first to borrow musical terms for the titles of his works of art. In 1872, he defined painting as "the exact correlative of music, as vague, as purely emotional, as released from all functions of representation." Whistler’s use of musical terminology was meant to convey the supremacy of color, line, and form over subject matter in his art. The title Nocturne was suggested by the artist’s patron, Frederick Leyland, an enthusiastic amateur pianist who was especially fond of Chopin, whose nocturnes were regarded as the epitome of Romantic mood music—particularly appropriate for Whistler’s moonlit marine views.

Nocturne

1878

James McNeill Whistler

(American, 1834–1903)
America

See Also

Visually Similar by AI

    Contact Us

    The information about this object, including provenance, may not be currently accurate. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@clevelandart.org.

    To request more information about this object, study images, or bibliography, contact the Ingalls Library Reference Desk.

    All images and data available through Open Access can be downloaded for free. For images not available through Open Access, or any image with a color bar, request a digital file from Image Services.