JAMES McNEILL WHISTLER.

UK,slim Qrto HB+dw/dj,illustrated,1st edn thus. [Originally and first published, UK,Studio Vista,1978. This edn by this publisher,1989,so a 1st edn thus.] FINE/FINE. No owner inscrptn but price-clip to dw/dj.Bright,crisp,clean,glossy laminatedcolour,pictorial artwork by Whistler [detail of 'Symphony in White No. 2: Little White Girl'] to front of dw/dj with capitalised, black-lettered title and author's capitalised,blue-lettered name; dark blue spine with capitalised,white-lettered title and author's name and publisher's b/w illustrated colophon to foot of same,rear of dw/dj horizontally half-covered,with colour pictorial artwork illustration by Whistler of 'Three Figures,Pink and Grey'. Negligible shelf-wear to edges and corners; minimal,light creasing along top edges - but no nicks, tears or splits present.Top+fore-edges bright,crisp and clean without blemish or foxing/spotting; contents bright,tight,clean,solid and sound - pristine - no dog-ear reading creases to any pages' corners - appears unread other than my own collation. Publisher's bright,crisp,clean and unblemished,sharp-cornered,original plain navy blue cloth boards with bright,crisp,blocked gilt-lettered spine/backstrip,a red+yellow striped headband and immaculate plain white endpapers. UK,slim Qrto HB+dw/dj,illustrated,1st edn thus,6-192pp [paginated] includes 11 chapters,145 contemporary b/w illustrations, photographs etc and 24 pages of colour illustrations [landscapes/seascapes/portraits],Notes to the Text,a selected Bibliography,and an Index; plus [unpaginated] half-title with Whistler b/w 'Arrangement in Grey: Self-portrait' to its reverse,a title page with Whistler's signature 'butterfly' b/w illustration and with Acknowledgements to its reverse, and a Contents list/table. See also my book ID rja1065423 [in my BIOGRAPHY catalogue] for 'Whistler's Mother: PORTRAIT OF AN EXTRAORDINARY LIFE.' Visually the exterior appearance is exceptional and particularly internally,is also in an exceptional condition/state of preservation and presentation for a book of its 30+ -year-old age.It really is an exceptional,exemplary example for its cleanliness, brightness and lack of detracting faults. In the 1870s the American-born James McNeill Whistler was among the most controversial figures in the London art world.His 'Nocturnes', 'Arrangements', 'Symphonies' and 'Harmonies' were a challenge to the orthodox Victorian belief in the primacy of subject-matter.With their emphasis on tone,colour and composition,they leaned dangerously towards abstraction. This is the first full-length study for over ten years (then 1989) to concentrate on the aims and achievements of the artist,rather than on the flamboyant personality of the man.The author appraises the whole range of Whistler's oeuvre,from decorative schemesto large-scale oil paintings.She provides a masterly account of the avant-garde aspects of his work: his startling new approaches to the planning of a composition and the handling of the paint,which were important stages in the emergence of a more abstract kind of art. Predominant themes such as the 'White Girl' and the 'Nocturnes' are traced from their early hesitant beginnings to the masterpieces of Whistler's maturity. Neglected paintings are revalued: especially the brilliant portraits of the later years and the beautiful lanscapesand seascapes that were painted on small wood panels in the 1880 and 1890s,when Whistler's work revealed a heightened sense of poetry.A number of the delicate etchings and lithographs are also discussed. An immensely valuable study,filling a wide gap in Art literature. Please contact seller,for correct shipping/P+p quotes - particularly ALL overseas customers - BEFORE ordering through the order page! N.B. ALL buyers please note,stocks' actual shipping/P+p costs are adjusted and any difference is refunded,after order's receipt and before the order's despatch,especially if the item(s) are offered either P+p included/FREE. ** N.B. US/Canada customers please be aware: Standard AIRMAIL postage from UK to these destinations can now cost more than the price of the book! If speed is not of the essence,then Economy rate is recommended - at approx. anything from a 1/3rd to 1/2 of the standard US AIR quote/rate - sometimes arriving sooner than the 42 days - but not always. **