James McNeill Whistler: Beyond the Myth [Paperback]

Ronald Anderson (Author), Anne Koval (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 25, 2002

The myth perpetuated throughout Whistler’s life—of a witty, irascible dandy endlessly feuding with the establishment or anyone else who stood in his way—is brought up to date with the treatment of his artistic achievement and extraordinary career in this major biography. From a youth in Tsarist Russia, military training at West Point and a bohemian lifestyle in 1850s Paris, Whistler went on to embody the image of the cosmopolitan artist. His friendships with Courbet, Fantin Latour, Rossetti, Manet, Monet, Degas, Baudelaire, Wilde, and Mallarme mark him as a crucial player in the larger art movements of the nineteenth century and as a pivotal figure between the British and French art scenes. By examining Whistler’s life and work together, Anderson and Koval show this most controversial and accomplished artist to be one of the most remarkable men of his age.This acclaimed biography of the greatest American artist of the nineteenth century includes 24 pages of black-and-white photographs as well as eight pages of full-color illustrations. “Eminently readable ... will surely be considered the standard biography....”—Washington Post Book World (front page) “Likely to be the Whistler biography for some time to come ... a generally absorbing, readable, and informative book.”—ArtNews “Valuable ... does much to separate fact from fantasy.”—New York Review of Books “Extensive and fascinating”—Atlantic Monthly

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Born in Mass., raised partly in St. Petersburg, Russia, where his father was a railway engineer, American painter James McNeill Whistler settled in Paris in 1855, then in 1859 in London, where he cultivated the image of an irascible dandy and lone genius. This persona, in the authors' view, obscures his pivotal role as a bridge between the British and French art scenes, between traditional art and modernism. In this robust biography, Whistler's relations with Degas, Monet, Manet, Mallarme, John Singer Sargent, Dante Gabriel Rossetti, John Ruskin and others are the matrix for his 30-year battle with the British art establishment. Whistler (1839-1903) comes across as vain, insecure, caddish and cantankerous but also generous and sympathetic. After a string of mistresses whom he dominated, he finally found true love, marrying Beatrice Godwin in 1888. Her agonizing death from cervical cancer eight years later drove him to the verge of a mental breakdown. Anderson and Koval are English art historians. Illustrated. 25,000 first printing; $20,000 ad/promo.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Of the making of Whistler books there is no end, or so it seems this year. No fewer than six new Whistler titles have appeared by design or coincidentally with major Whistler shows at the National Gallery of Art (Washington, D.C.) and elsewhere. Here, independent Whistler scholars Anderson and Koval systematically debunk the myths surrounding Whistler's life and work (e.g., the importance of Whistler's American roots), which were spawned by Joseph and Elizabeth Robbin Pennell's sympathetic 1908 biography, The Life of James McNeill Whistler (A.M.S. Pr.). That task aside, they present a well-written, definitive account of the artist, who nonetheless remains an enigma. The book begs for a careful read with frequent sallies forth to the notes and incredibly detailed index, but readers will be rewarded with a thorough understanding of Whistler's noteworthy contributions to the fine and allied arts of the latter 19th and early 20th centuries (his mother's all-too-famous portrait notwithstanding). Strongly recommended for all collections.
P. Steven Thomas, Illinois State Univ., Normal
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 544 pages
• Publisher: Carroll & Graf (June 25, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786710322
• ISBN-13: 978-0786710324
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,150,826 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Superb Work of Art History & Biography, January 29, 2007

By 

J. Kenneth Kastle "Ken Kastle" (Columbus, Ohio) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: James McNeill Whistler: Beyond the Myth (Paperback)

As an art collector of primarily 19th Century European Art, reading as much as possible on the subject is an indespensible part of the process of building - as well as enjoying - a worthwhile collection. Not the least of the joy of this journey is becoming acquainted with the many fascinating characters who played their parts in such a vastly complex cultural drama as unfolded in 19th Century Europe.

To write an historical biography book as vastly complex as this, any author is challenged with fairly and accurately depicting the artist, his many dealers, critics and patrons, as well as friends & family. Then, placing this cast within the flow of the larger social, political, and economic trends of the period. A lot of balls to keep in the air without confusing the reader.

Like any other group, we can visualize the quality of the results of such authors as falling into something akin to a bell curve. A "normal distribution", if you will. And as one would expect, only very few place at the far right portion of the curve. This book is one of those rare gems.

Even when compared to the well written biographies of J.M.W. Turner, John Constable, Mary Cassatt, and Renoir this volume stands out.

The depth and quality of the research is unsurpassed, in my opinion.
As is the authors brilliant handling of the daunting task of selecting and organizing all that material into a flowing narrative that informs, holds the attention and entertains.

James NcHeill Whistler: Beyond the Myth rings all those bells clearly and harmoniously. In fact, of the many art historical works I've read the only one which stands on equal ground is John Rewald's outstanding work: The History of Impressionism.

If you're looking for a sometimes exciting, humorous, and honestly told story of a visionary artistic genius who, despite his character flaws, produced some of the finest art of the 19th Century? This book is a must read.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Whistler: Egotist and Great Artist!, June 9, 2005

By 

David B Richman (Mesilla Park, NM USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: James McNeill Whistler: Beyond the Myth (Hardcover)

James McNeill Whistler is perhaps best known for his "Arrangement in Grey and Black", also known as "Whistler's Mother." Except for art historians and perhaps some interested art collectors, his "Nocturne in Black and Gold" (which I like) is little known to the public. The furor that the later painting caused (including Whistler's suit against Ruskin over the latter's criticism of the work), seems odd to us now, but it nearly ruined Whistler, who won the suit but went bankrupt in the process. My own impression is that Ruskin was the biggest egotist in this contest, but both were pretty obnoxious. Whistler was famous during his lifetime for being arrogant and egotistical. However, at least he had something to be arrogant about- he was a genuinely great artist; an artist who influenced later artists such as Picasso, Rothko and probably Matisse.

Ronald Anderson and Anne Koval have, in a meticulously researched book, given us a full account of Whistler and his times in "James McNeil Whistler: Beyond the Myth". Whistler's triumphs and failures, as well as his sometimes tragic personal life are all here. His wife's death from cancer was particularly touching and his devotion to her spoke well of him, despite his other faults.

This is also a very interesting period in the history of art as Whistler went one way and Gauguin and Van Gough another in diverging from the impressionist's methods. Whatever can be said about Whistler, it must be noted that he had an impact on art and this is about as much as can be said for any artist. That he had major flaws is not contestable, but his great contribution to the development of modern art is (I think - as a somewhat informed layman) also not contestable.

This is a good book for those interested in the development of modern art from Impressionism. There are several other recent books on Whistler, which I have not read so I cannot compare them, however I recommend this book highly based on its own merits.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE ARTIST BEHIND THE MYTH, April 17, 2004

By 

Gail Cooke (TX, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: James McNeill Whistler: Beyond the Myth (Paperback)

This life rendering of many faceted artist James McNeill Whistler is fine reading and a treasured contribution to the annals of art history.

Taking the best of Impressionism and Realism, Whistler's uniquely individual treatments of color are unforgettable. We think of "Nocturne In Blue and Gold," his muted yet powerful study of London's Old Battersea Bridge.

Born in Massachusetts in 1834, Whistler spent part of his youth in Russia. For a time he lived in Paris, where he was an adherent of Courbet's. Later, he settled in London, becoming a friend of Oscar Wilde's and a visible "dandy" of the art circuit.

Whistler's intriguing personal self seemed to belie the public persona he assiduously created. English art historians Anderson and Koval have, indeed, revealed the man behind the myth.

- Gail Cooke