James McNeill Whistler: Aesthetics, Scandal & the Art of the Nocturne

Dandy, wit, outsider and provocateur, Whistler stood at the threshold of modernity. From his “Nocturnes” to his “Symphonies,” he insisted that art existed for beauty alone — infuriating John Ruskin, enthralling Oscar Wilde, and reshaping artistic taste on both sides of the Channel.

In this session we explore Whistler’s sense of colour and tone, his duels with critics, and his enormous influence on the future of modern art.