The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-03-22
ROW m ARTISTS SOCIETY
OVER HANGING or WHISTLER
PICTURES IN EXHIBITION.

nv
They We're Loaned the Society Of American
Artists and VIII II. Low Protested
Against Place Assigned Them-Tne
Pictures Taken From the walls.
After a protracted quiescence, continuing
since the secession Of THE Ten. the Society
Of American Artists has within the last
couple OF days been disturbed once more
with the echoes Of strife. and the unusual
event Of q pronered resignation challenges
the society's attention.
The trouble comes on the eve OF the 90
ciety's annual exhibition, which opens In
the Fine Arts Building next Saturday, and
It L. an outRrowth Of well-meant but I'M
fortunately directed efforts to add to the
dignity and interest OF the exhibition by
displaying as one OF its attractions group
Of three paintings by James MCNEIL
Whistler.
In q nutshell. the society desired to ex-
hibit the Whistlers, had them In its posses-
sion and even placed on Its walls, but now
finds Itself without them, and discovers
itself suddenly threatened. like the Liquor
Dealers Association. with an irruption OF
Low, the irruptor in the artistic organiza-
ton being Will H. Low, the shining light
OF illustration pages, and latterly known
a. painter As well.
Mr.. Low was one Of a committee appointeo'
after the custom OF art societies, to solicit
few pictures for the exhibition from other
than members Of the society. whether the
lenders Of these pictures should be artists
Of non-membership, or other owners Oh
paintings which II might be desired TO show
at the exhibition.
In the pursuit Of his Office. Mr.. Low made
| a request Of Mr.. Charles l.. Freer OF De-
troit, one OF the best known patrons OF
art In the United States and the owner OF
many fine whistler. to permit some OF his
whistlers which had not before been ex-
hibited here TO be shown at the coming
exhibition.
Mr.. Freer, who IL always interested In
art afYairs, made q response In which he
endeavored to afford the opportunity to
mako this springs exhibition even more
interesting than he could do by merely
sending on some OF his own Whistler can
vases. He said that he thought that
painting by Whistler which had been re-
Gently purchased by q friend Of his and
which was still In the Custom House could
DO ODtdlneu IOI tHV CAioieio"' "NN '-s
he would also lend a couple Of his own
whistlers, STIMULATING only that the three
canvases should be hung as . group and
In a good place.
The society In reply readily and gladly
promised TO hang the paintings as desired.
The angling committee, which had only a
little more than two days in which to do
it's work, waited expectantly for two days
, them, which Mr. Freer had had In his posses
sion. came along, but the third failed to
appear. At last the committee. made up
of William A. Coffin. who was director OF
fine arts at the Pan American Exposition
at Buffalo; II. Bolton Jones and William
Thorne, felt compelled to 60 ahead with
their work as there was lot OF II TO DO.
and when the third Whistler arrived II
was determined to hang tho three as a
centre Of the west wall Of the large south
gallery, where whistler's Andalusian girl
The csnvasss were hung there. the
it's report over to the jury. apd st this point
] Mr.. Low caIne on the scene and entered Q
rigorous protest against the hanging OF
| the whistlers anywhere but In the Wander
bilt gallery. whore q nude contributed by
Mr. Low In placed on the line.
To please Mr.. Low. the hanging com-
| mittee and the jury set TO work to do things
over TO the necessary degree. and by re-
arranging the scheme which they had
adopted they made what they considered
! wall Of the Vanderbilt gallery, to the right
1 of the entrance to that gallery.
But Mr. Low was more wroth than ever.
| Mr.. Freer, he declared. would not be salts
fed. Mr.. Frecr had done a most kindly
thing In loaning his Whistlers. and had been
I'D In. On t<.h Aax A
Of transporting them and Of insuring the
| three canvases, valued at above $4,000
Moreover, Mr.. Whistler was a great man
! and deserved the finest place the society
had to offer TO any body.
Members Of the hard-worked committee
and OF the jury protested that they had
| given the paintings places 10 which no
| exception could be taken. places a. good ~
any save what In commonly regarded
a. the place Of honor In the centre OF the
that they could not make any further
| changes.
Mr. Low walked out Of the room. With
Kenyon Cor lovingly unfolding his shoulders
IN q oonciliatory arm and oonverring with
Cor al the door hs went Into the front room
Of the building and wrote out his rssagns.
ton. There wefe men pr~ssnt Who wanted
60 call Q nesting % sooept the resignation
out OF hand. but more conciliaiory counssl
being anxious that uhs socisty should do
4 nothing % put Itself In the attitude 81
making . mistake Just bsoAuse MI Low
| had made one
but Mr. Lowe resignation was not tbs
| only burden laid upon tlss artistic oon,
saenoss Of the ~sryan,s 81 tbs soe'e'y
Telegram osms from Nf frsr. in hsspons.
| g. n sss revealed % Q communication
shinh NJ Low had ssnt han 10y wlv
~ Irs~ s4ld that unls-s the whs,lsf-
eouLd 10 huAS 10 an: II ,~o plsa-s shIsl
he s,s.niasd n the Vanderbilt Gallery b.
sl.lsrd thai they h. siihdfs~n from chs
/ s.hilsitlon, AID Aftsf careful eonsldesstlon
| II go d.old.i that nsiilsss ~ thass Tlsass
soulA h. silsa,sd ca than, and thsS stii
nol 10 slsosn