James Abbott McNeill Whistler (July 11, 1834 – July 17, 1903) is an American-born, British-based artist.

Averse to sentimentality and moral allusion in painting, he is a leading proponent of the credo, "art for art's sake".

His famous signature for his paintings is in the shape of a stylized butterfly possessing a long stinger for a tail.

The symbol is apt, for it combines both aspects of his personality—his art is characterized by a subtle delicacy, while his public persona is combative.

Finding a parallel between painting and music, Whistler entitles many of his paintings "arrangements", "harmonies", and "nocturnes", emphasizing the primacy of tonal harmony.

His most famous painting is Whistler's Mother (1871), the revered and oft parodied portrait of motherhood.

Whistler influences the art world and the broader culture of his time with his artistic theories and his friendships with leading artists and writers.