Directed by David Bickerstaff
HD video | 16:9 | 90 min

In an era of great change and great beauty emerged the character of James McNeill Whistler. Considered by some to be one of the great innovators of 19th century art, he was a contemporary of the Impressionists, much admired by Van Gogh and Manet. Boldly experimental and famously witty, Whistler disrupted the strict conventions of Victorian society in pursuit of a new cult of beauty, creating “art for art’s sake” and earning himself a place in the history of great art. He found a parallel between painting and music, and entitled many of his paintings “arrangements”, “harmonies” and “nocturnes”, emphasizing the importance of tonal harmony in his work. His most famous painting, Arrangement in Grey and Black No. 1 (1871), commonly known as Whistler’s Mother, is a revered and often parodied portrait of motherhood. It is arguably one of the most famous paintings in history and this film will unveil the artist behind the art.

This film explores the blockbuster exhibition at Tate Britain and promises to show how important Whistler is to art history, uniting world-famous masterpieces with rarely seen works. This is an unmissable chance to get to know this visually spectacular artist and the influence he has had on those who followed.

Music by Asa Bennett
Written by David Bickerstaff and Phil Grabsky
Post-production - Storm Postproduction

Whistler's words read by Bret Jones

With contributions by
Stephen Calloway - Art Historian and Curator
Rachel Campbell-Johnston - Art Critic and Writer
Susan Grace Galassi - Curator Emerita, The Frick Collection
Diana Greenwold - The Lunder Curator of American Art, National Museum of Asian Art
Carol Jacobi - Curator of British Art 1850–1915, Tate Britain
Gabriella Macaro - Paintings Conservator, Tate Britain
Patricia de Montfort - Art Historian, University of Glasgow
Rachel Scott - Paintings Conservator, Tate Britain