The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1896-12-30
WHISTLER KEEPS IT,
He VIII Not Consent to Let His PIT
ture Come to Chicago.

ture Come to Chicago.
"Allow my masterpiece to so to such
place as Chicago? Never! And my
reputation and the dignity of the artis-
tic profession? Never!"
James Mcneil Whistler is credited
with having made this vehement re-
mark when Mrs. Harold Peck, of the
Virginia Hotel, asked him to ship to
this city painting of Miss Marion
Peck, executed by the artist in Paris
and London under romantic circum-
stances.
The fact that Miss Peck gave him
more than ninety sittings for the pic
ture and that the artists price for 1t
was paid promptly upon its completion
adds a flavor to the story which makes,
it worthy of preservation as a real
Whistler masterpiece.
The picture was begun at the Paris
studio of Whistler shortly after Mrs,
| Peck and her daughter went abroad
two years ago. There is cordial
| friendship between the artist and his
patrons, and it is said that he found in
his American study blending Of char
acteristics which delighted him as a
type both rare and artistic. He lent
himself to his task with the devotion
seen when an artist paints his genius
! without regard to financial considera-
lions.
Again and again Miss Peck posed
while Whistler caught her personality
upon his canvas. The study was life
size a standing posture, and it's spirit
| betrayed Whistler's own. The picture
at length was completed, but it was
still retained in the artists possession
he wanted a few more opportune
poses for an alteration or two in de-
/ tails. The portrait went with it's au-
thor at the time of his return to Lon
] don.
| When Mrs. Peck and Miss Peck were
in London last spring the last exac-
tons were complied with and the por-
trait was finished, beyond even the au-
thor's cavil. 1t delighted the patrons
as much as it did the artist, and those
who were permitted to see it praised it
as a masterpiece. And then, being
about to return home, Mrs. Peck spoke
| VI SellulHS 1t 10 tHlCdSu.
Send it to Chicago" the painter
gasped Separation from his creation
probably entered the Whistler mind for
the first time and with pang He
forgot possibly that he had months ago
accepted generous price for it. al
i low my masterpiece to go to such a
place as Chicago? Never! And my
reputation and the dignity Of the artis-
tic profession? Never!"
| That was last spring, and the por-
trait has not left London yet.
| There is a place upon the wall in the
apartments of Mrs. Peck at the Virgin
ia where the light falls just right, and
there it was meant that picture should
| hang. If Whistler ever consents to
forget his love for it maybe 1t will do
so yet. But it is not expected that it
will soon--at least not before it has
hung in the next Paris Salon Of the
Champ de Mars.
Mrs. Peck spoke of the affair yester-
day as if she were convert to the doc
trine of that artists humors deserved
to be judged by special rules. She adj
mitted the facts of the story with
disclaimer of censure, saying there
|
tier felt as he did.
Il do not want to say anything I'M
kind of the artist" she said, for al
though I am anxious to get my daugh-
ter's portrait, / am far from feeling the
least ill-will toward him. In fact, I
am apt to set even q higher value upon
the canvas with SO much of Mr. Whis-
tiers personality put into it. think
he will let me have it after a while.
II prize my acquaintance with the
artist, however, as itself a treasure,
and I should like to crafty him in any
way possible after his vast labor upon
my, daughters portrait He wants to
hang this picture in the Paris Salon
next year, and I think after that he
will be reconciled to part with it.
! IT told him If he would send it to me
for the present | would return it in
time for the exhibit, but he has not
sent 1t. Since the death of Mrs. Whis-
tier in the spring, the artist has been
very disconsolate, and / think for that
reason as much as any other he is
averse to losing canvases that have
become part of his studio"
rs there any secret about the ar
| tlSl price LOT the WOFk! MIS- IeCh
was asked.
| ooh, / do not want to say anything
about that" she said with firmness.
I'VE are friends, and on both sides the
portrait is valued in friendship-the
sentimental value of it swallows up the
commercial side of the transaction,
and that is better forgotten"
| Miss Pecks engagement to William
r. Farquhar was recently announced.
Her father was Harold Peck, now
dead, the younger brother of Ferdi-
nand w. Peck. She has a pleasant
personality in bearing Is striking, and
has hair such as it is said Titan loved
to paint. She was presented at the
English court upon her last visit
abroad.
Mr.. Farquhar is the son of Comno-
dore Farquhar, of Scotland, and for
some years has lived in Chicago.-Chi-
cago Tribune.