James Abbot McNeill Whistler (1834-1903), born in Massachusetts but brought up partly in Russia and England, was based in Europe for much of his life. He developed a highly personal style based on colour harmonies, and a provocative, dandyish personality that ensured his fame. His technical brilliance as a painter and also as an etcher, and sense of drama in compositions, have only increased his popularity.

"A masterpiece--not only for its clever satire and amusing jests will it be remembered, but for the pure and perfect beauty of many of its passages." --Oscar Wilde