Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-07-18
Sued John Ruskin.

oueO JOIN huSR1n.
In the seventies Whistler sued John Rus
kin because that famous critic of literature
and art and architecture had ventured to
say that the painter was not all that he
claimed to be.
In way which was entirely character
istic of the man Whistler set out to vim
dictate himself. While the world looked
on with absorbed interest he pushed his
case with such vigor and intelligence that
he obtained an award of damages. 1t was
only one farthng, but it established his
point and his fame
When his enemies had exhausted their
supply of material against him and when
he had won pre-eminence in his art, he
wrote a pamphlet under the title of Fitch
ings and Dry Points," under each title OF
which Whistler quoted the adverse criti-
cisms that had appeared in the news
papers.
Pen O'clock" a lecture on art. setting
forth his ideas and ideals, is one of his
most valued productions. In THE Baronet
and the Butterfly he set forth his opin
lens of the action Of Sir William Eden in
so forcible a manner that he added to his
fame as a master of biting sarcasms Sir
William has sued him for possession Of
an unfinished portrait of his daughter
In The Gentle Art of Making Enemies
he again merclessly attacked his critics
and proved his ability to satirize with the
most brilliant writer's of the day.
His Famous Paintings.
His most famous paintings are the Moe
turne in Blue and Silver the portrait of
Sarasate and portraits of nearly all the
notables of today. His etchings are said
by critics to be beyond comparison with
any others of the present age.
A little more than year ago Whistler
went to The Hague. and reports went
back to the London newspapers that he
was dying This state Of affairs not only
induced the painter to hasten his GONZALES
cence, but led him to write several fetching
letters to editors of the journals which pre-
maturely discussed his prospective taking
Off
When the art critic of the Standard ven
tured the comment that he had seen "a
small Whistler in the New Gallery he
drew forth scorching letter from Whist
Ter, in which the artist said it seemed to
be the opinion of the critic that a picture
once seen should never be seen again.
which Is sometimes monstrous true
The following sketch is taken from the
Baltimore Sun:
A Master Etcher. en-
James Abbott Mcneil Whistler was not
only one of the most famous American art
lists. but the acknowledged master of the
etcher's art of modern times.
He was born in Lowell Mass. in 1924
and was consequently sixty-nine years of
age. His mother was Miss Winans of Bal
timore his father a distinguished engineer
and a graduate of West Point
Whistler was probably well known to
the general. public by his eccentricities as
he to the art world by his famous
etchings and paintings. and while the most
of his life had been spent abroad, and the
best of his work Is the property of foreign
art collectors. there Is chapter of his his
tory belonging to the time of his first eff
| forts in an art direction, the story of his
| departmental life In Washington. that is
| not generally known. but is interesting IS
| showing the trend of events which shaped
| the career of Whistler. the careless youth.
| into Whistler, the successful artist.
Joined Coast Survey
| In the early fifties the coast and geo.
| detic survey was known as the coast sur