James Abbott McNeill Whistler was an American-born, French-trained, British-based artist who advocated 'art for art's sake'. He was inspired by the connections between painting and music and entitled many of his paintings 'arrangements', 'harmonies' and 'nocturnes'. Whistler influenced the art world and the culture of the time with his artistic theories and his friendships with leading artists and writers as well as distinctive, non-naturalistic technique of painting. He became notorious in 1877-78 through the famous libel trial against John Ruskin, which he won, but from which he was awarded only a farthing damages.
Whistler owned Wilson's drawing D356 Chelsea Old Bridge National Museum Wales, Cardiff, given to him by John Deffett Francis.
