Grey and Silver: Old Battersea Reach

1863

James McNeill Whistler painted marine subjects throughout his career. In this painting, he focused on the industrial nature of London's Thames River—boats and barges, laboring men, and smoking chimneys. Despite the realism of the subject, Whistler unified the composition with deft brushwork and a subtle palette of brown and gray that anticipates his later interest in delicate tonal harmonies.

Public domain · CC0
Free to download and reuse. Image courtesy of Art Institute of Chicago.

Artist

James McNeill Whistler (American, 1834–1903)

Date

1863

Medium

Oil on canvas

Dimensions

50.8 × 68.6 cm (20 × 27 in.)

Origin

London

Collection

Art Institute of Chicago

Credit

Gift of Honoré and Potter Palmer