The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-04-11
THE PEAC0CK-ROOM.
A Row Between LeyIand and Whistle
Which Brought on Tragedy.
Wit and Wisdnm

A Row Between LeyIand and Whistler
Which Brought a Tragedy.
Wit and Wisdom.
Frederick r. Leyland, whose sudden
death was recently announced, realized at his
residence, in the immediate neighborhood
of Prince's-gate, his dream of living the life
of an old Venetian merchant in modern
London. On entering the large entrance
hall the first thing tIat str kes the visitor is
the staircase, with its fine balustrade OF
gilt bronze which once adorned North
cumberland House. The color of the hail
and of the staircase is green from tile
foot to the top of the house. The whole
is paneled in shades of willow The
dado of the darker shades is enriched with
panels decorated with delicate sprigS Of
pale rose aud white flowers in the Japanese
style. These panels were painted by j. Me
NELL W Whistler. The dining-roOm is famous
in the art world as the ''peac0ck-roam.
This description it owes to the decoration
with which Mr.. Whistler has enriched the
walls. The general color scheme Of the
room Is torauoiSe blue and gold, and the
only ornaments are pieces of blue and
white china displayed ON shelves of carved
and gilt wood.
The room as it was originally conceived
was hung with Spanish leather, aad it wa,
by mere fiuke that Whistler came to deco
rae it. The story is as follows q Mr.. Ley
land, having purchased a picture by WINS
tier, representing a damsel in Japanese
robe, hung it over fireplace, where it stiIi
remains. Mr.. Whistler, having inspected
the arrangement, complained That the Fed
flowers scattered over the gold ground Of tn.
Spanish leather hurt the harmony of his
picture, and proposed 10 paint them out.
Mr.. Ley!and gave 9l000 for his Spanish
leather, but he nevertheless allowed the i'm
presSonist leader to have his way, wherr-
upon Whistler went on painting and paint
ing until the Spanish leather disappeared
entirely and new and absolutely unique
decorative scheme OF blue and gold. in
which the chief motif was pearOeks ani
their feathers appeared in its place. Walls
and ceilings are entirely covered with these
japanese compositions. Over the buffet ~
the end of the room opposite the fireplace is
an oolong panel sixteen feet long. where
Mr.. Whistler has depicted two peacockS IN
aggressive attitudes, designed il gold on
blue ground.
One peacock of uuruffied elegance is sup
posed by some subtle nterlinear readers In
represent the artist and the other peacock,
with disordered piumage and irate mien,
standing on a pile of shekelS, IS identified
with the artists patron. The background is
dotted with flying feathers and masses OF
gold, and the whole composition has refer
ence. we are told, to difference that arose
between the artist and the late Mr.. Leyland
with respect 10 the cost of the work. Be-
sides estranging Whistler and Leyland the
''peaeock-ropm" had a far more tragic con-
sequence.
Mr.. Jeckyll, who had designed and Com
pleteiy finished the room when Mr. Whistler
appeared on the scene, had already suffered
several disapDointmentS owing to accident
having deprived him OF the credit Of lis
work in Mr.. Leyand's house. When Mr.
Jeckyll saw the Spanish leather disappear
and the peacock harmony In . hue and gold
become the talk of London he went home
and commenced to paint the floor of his
bedroom gold. and in few weeks he died
insane In private luuatic asylum.