Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-02
MEMORIAL TO WHISTLER.
Plan to Give Paris a Replica Of
Rodin Statue.
From the Literary Digest.

From the Literary Digest.
Whistler is about to have a triple me-
mortal executed by August Rodin. 1t Is
a statue in bronze, the original soon to
be set up on the Thames embankment in
London; and two replicas. one for Ameri-
ca and one for Paris. This memorial. We
learn from a letter to the New York
Evening Post. written by the etcher. Mr..
Joseph Pencil. was inspired by the In
ternational Society of SculptOrs Painters
and Ciravers, OF which Whistler was the
founder and later president The statue
is a life-siZe figure of Fame. bearing a
bust or medallion of Whistler. Those
who have seen it pronounce it one OF
Robins masterpieces. The American re-
plica has already been secured by the
city OF Lowell, Mass, through the efforts
of its art association The house in
Lowell where Whistler was bern las been
converted into permanent museum for
Whistleriana. Mr.. Pennell now proposes
that the third replica he presented to
France by the American people, and
makes his appeal in these words:
why could not America present this
replica to France? There have been In
ternational exchanges or presentations of
works of art before Why can it not be
done again and with great fitness and
honor?
why can not the artists and the art
students of this country. who owe much
TO France. much to Whistler much to
Rodin. present the memorial to the re-
public?
France has done much for American
artists. We American artists in return
have done something for France. but here
Is a chance to do more. and We owe
great debt still.
yet the sun, needful to obtain this
replica and present 1t to France is abb
surdly snlall-$5.OO0 Is all that is wanted.
Can not the artists. the art students and
the art patrons OF this country raise the
amount in a week, as the citizens of
Lowell did?
Il am sure they can, and now. for art
triumphs always over hard times. over
wars and rumors of wars. even over cleo
tons. Here is wonderful opportunity
to strengthen our artistic ties with
France, and to honor two great men-
One, Whistler, the greatest artist Ameri-
ca has produced; the other Rodn. the
greatest living sculptor. In Europe. most
OF the subscriptions came from artists
art students and authors, for it must not
be forgotten. as It TOO often IS. that
Whistler was an author. and a most dis
tinguished one. nor must II be forgotten
that he was en- American and among the
great Americans.
Therefore will not Amer can artists and
authors 10 for their own countrynen
what Englishmen have done for a foreign-
err? Among the Englishn1en who have
contributed are George Meredith. Rud-
yard Kipling. Edmund Gosse. Austin Dob
son. Maurice Hewlett. Sir Gilbert Parker.
Bernard Shaw. Sir John Hare. Sir Squire
Bancroft. Sir Lawrence Alma Tadema.
Sir Herbert Herllimer S = Charles Hoi-
royd, Sir Walter Armstrong, Walter
Crane, Sir James Guthrie. Roger Fry.
John Lavery and hundreds Of others.
Tie subscriptions have ranged from SIN
pence to five hundred pounds
TIE cost of the French replica. 5000.
fr,c TT
expense OF mechanical work-the build
ing of the pedestal and the casting .; the
bronze For his services Mr.. Rodn re-
ceives nothing: and the extent or his con-
tribu:ion to this me .noriali2.aE o. great
American artist may be measured by the
rate at which he is now compensated FOR
his creations i'll sculpture. St!rh figure
as the Whistler memorial Mr. PenneiI
asserts. would bring the sculptor al least
$4,000. Contributions Of any amount
are invited and may be sent to Mr. JOS
ept Pencil, care Of the Century Club.
New York.