Law suit for libel opened on 25 November 1878 at London’s Courts of Justice, with Whistler as litigant, claiming damages of £1000 from Ruskin. The verdict was awarded to Whistler after a trial lasting eight hours (the jury deliberated for another two), but as importantly, Whistler was awarded only one farthing in damages and no costs. Image: Self-Portrait of James McNeill Whistler, Arrangement in Gray: Portrait of the Painter, c. 1872 (Detroit, Michigan, Detroit Institute of Arts). This image is in the public domain in the United States because its copyright has expired.

Articles

Julie Codell, "“On the Grosvener Gallery, 1877-90″

Nicholas Frankel, “On the Whistler-Ruskin Trial, 1878″