The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-06-02
AN AMERICAN ARTIST IN LONDON
The Theory and the Work OF james whistler
why lie Left Our Navy.


why lie Left Our Navy.
F,ot, ne Lp,ip, U@1
"Why not 2" cxclaims Mr.. James Whist
Ter. with true Southern vvacitY. his bright gray
eyes sparkling with excitement; why should
not | call my works symphonies, arrangements,
harmonios. nocturncs. and 80 forth - 1t is
difficult 10 convey an idea OF Mr.. Whster's in
tense earnostncss. Every hair curls with ami
nation, and the slight active figure, clad in
blue-sergo yachting suit almost realizes the
exceptional existence OF Sir Boyle Roche bird.
Artist from the single gray lock of hair on his
crest 10 the square toes of his NIFTY shoes he
thinks 1t strange that the vast majority of Eng
lish folk cannot and will not consider picture
as picture, apart from any story which 1t may
be supposed to tell.
There II an illustration Of my meaning" he
continues. pointing to what he II pleased to call
n -" Harmony in Gray and Gold "a snow scene
with n single black figure making lts way
through the gloom to abrillqntly lighted tav-
crn. Now that to me IL harmony of color
future of the black iieure1 placed there because
the black was wanted at that spot-nll that
know is that my combnation Of gray aud gold
satisfies my artistic feeling. Now, this is pre-
cisely what many Of my friends will not grasp.
There. hanging opposite my bed; Is ne picture
as an Arrangement in Gray and Black" Now.
that If what II Is. TO me II Is interesting as a
picture 81 my mother: but what can or ought
the public TO care about the identity Of the por-
trat2 IL must stand or fall on it, merits rs an
,,arrangement;' and ii very nearly fell-thats
fact"
An Amcrican-a citizen Of Maryland-he failed
70 pass the examination necessary 70 qualify
him for the United States army. and. after re-
ccivlng m appointment for the navy came to
gr't While employed on n survey he adorned
his work with portraits " his superior officers.
Un'uckily. tho plates were taken AWAY in his
nls"ncc; aud when proofs Were pulled, his as
| founded chiels b,held themselves depicted on
tho margin. Mr.. Whistler was duly Informed
th,t the naval service Of Uncle sam required
him 20 more and he retired forever from the
I ~ a .as.Nl tfa.
/ Resolved on an artistic career he then went
! 10 Paris whore he sat at the feet % VI. Claire.
MIR Armitase' AMI Mr.. Da Maurier: but the
! trammes Of regu lar academic study soon proved
irksoms To- the young, American. who after
/ iorcgatherlng for while with Courbet and the
nn,prsssionis'eS. turned aside and worked atone.
/ The nr.t outcome - original work was the por-
| trait OF n mere Gerdrd now in tho pos-, ssion
! Of Mr. Swinburne. o. Hating bciw."n Lon
don and Paris. Mr.. Whistler cnioy-d tho salts
the Academy ana the salon. The Piano pic,
ture WAS refused NJ the Salon. exhibited in Lon
| don, bought by the late Mr.. John Philip. and
where's sked the artist to allow his picture 10 he
GT Ha he at the Sa9p waSEs wGs hung on the
! both 10y the Salon aud the Royal Academy, md
| then exhibited at the Salon des lirlusfc. Next
the WnLping' and the Balcony pictures,
/ and the alrangem'ni-' ami sympl onics
| with which the public ~ today are familiar.
Pending his acceptance 10y authority rs
/ painter. Nj. Whistler busted himself with otch-
ltf, Ahd ~ thl7 WORK 81 arr produr"i an e1ect
dam, and there h' wis a. once accepted H. an
lei bir,sf ,,',',i a., M -, ',9.',l 'ir puS i
h. ' p n'uW VIII .t' I,'nihS hrgulr ana
/ nonhend ,lNe y 'nlon on MS work. Eng
i,,,r,i' ~, .a.s .,"t NOR 'Nanllr anu Nter
sum a. " Oll Billlnessatr,' the scenes in the
t' az '.i'. ri WNu i 'lli titl7e
became the rug among ert collectors he be-
, " ,r' ''' T. y, o fHt w iN'n ~" trhlnE -
1,r, w I i,. '',,' 'l'' a. III ,yn1g' "'
t'"7s T. u'ti!!llrl1' pl"'s W"1 nuns u7luc' ana
WLcn he TN tn otehiin,ec nceIe fortho h,usb
~, Mna .nip unlI h' u"l mlsWken ms vocation.
IN NIt,u' ~ M"s ~ J. M"Ilri h'7 ''' nlns7' nul
and bia"k whieh OH, .id'wveI tRnt h. W n Xxx
uSIh elchot, lut entirety destitute ~ any ilca
/ a. ,1,l"r A. ,nir nnD e.hYh'ed pr. uiStl'r
/ profound analysis ui tho ,prlnrp"e on Whlrh
/ me JaWn1sc musi. llmlut" tcir cNtfaordl-
! htI}ev''vf nArhlpni'S, 10 NE luHh' eye I'M
/ vuu'Hed NJ thal urrl0i - japanese art
/ WohufoNs mlhEllhg ui 'o'ora hll"ulei as the
! result oI species ~ color madness.
! cni.'n,v, hrVslV,' rom AT, MH,rurr WuoW ia
'hryh' M"k Is away charming. AMI ih' coh-
rtaht contemplation Of the broad river has per;
hals taught MN how TO get his WONDERFUL
/ .Hrrts ol Walery eNranae. NJ Cheyn' walk the
/ oolor-harhohist mas spent many lhhorlous
/ years ana endured phll"sonhicaIy enough the
hostile blasts OF criticism. Not long ngo he de-
] hllilhtt 'l,,s more 10 tako up The cithlnE
/ ht'hi"i mr.. Whistler 5 again nara ut WORK ~
/ ms 'lthlug room nj the top Of the house, which
/ once formed part "i the old l;lnirs"y mansion.
~ rs Il Solemn delEllt 10 wn'ch Mr. MSlrr NJ
work IN thus room. dnshinE away with tho dry
| point, anu puling MS proofs himself, In MS
| methou ui worklng h" follows the example OF
! h'mprhndt ma the great old nasi"r-- drawing
! rs plriureW One" ON the rlaIn without pre-,
/ urinary sk'l'h OF any klnd. On hHhl1 hid
hhrg"s. on steamboat piers and lriIg' s., H."
/ works WIN a RAPID ana ph"Grns h4hd' Inc
/ lHgl,S oil ours. are finished ~ WIN me dry
point. SO lar a. an itching should hn nni7hed
/ ~ the queer niue room whore We slt. watching
piu'l lil,,lu NM huotl!t Wy iuo'l'"H"e al uh-
He subjects hie paintings in oil to an original
course OF treatment, hanging ihom up in his