*Whistler "Nocturne in Black and Gold" Museum Event Poster Detroit Institute of the Arts

Also known as the falling rocket. 33 x 24

 James Abbott McNeill Whistler  

This is one of the most famous works by the artist because in 1877 when Whistler first exhibited this painting in London an art critic named John Ruskin wrote that the painting was like "flinging a pot of paint in the public's face". Which in turn the artist sued him for libel a few days later. It was a big news event as the court case went on for months. In the end, Whistler won! 

Whistler saw his paintings and this one in particular as a composition of music. "Nature contains the elements, in color and form, of all pictures, as the keyboard contains the notes of all music." ...Whistler