Mr. Whistler's Gallery: Pictures at an 1884 Exhibition

by Kenneth John Myers

Showcasing rarely exhibited oils, watercolors, and pastels, Mr. Whistler's Gallery explores an influential exhibition the artist organized at the Dowdeswells' gallery in London in May 1884. Not only did Whistler select the works to be included and decide where they were hung, he also designed the color scheme, furnishings, and picture frames. He titled his installation an Arrangement in Flesh Colour & Grey. Whistler's "arrangement" attracted a great deal of press coverage that spurred attendance and transformed his art exhibition into a widely discussed cultural "event."
Mr. Whistler's Gallery will appeal to scholars, design enthusiasts, and all those interested in nineteenth century British and American art.

Paperback

First published September 1, 2003

Reviews

[Dawson Escott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid! I only wish it went even further in depth in his career and future exhibitions, but it was a tightly focused and well-sourced look at Whistler's exhibition presentation style with lots of threads for me to follow.