Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-12-30

points by Whistler owned by ralph
King Of Cleveland, Ohio, has been placed
on exhibition as loan in the Corcoran
Gallery of Art The collection COM
prises fifty-six prints. among which Is
the venetian Nocturne.' which in
April, 1917, brought $500 at auction
From thi.Aeollection one can gain
very compre.An sive and fairly intimate
understanding and appreciation OF
Whistler as arc Ncher. for it comprises
examples of eae Shis different periods
and styles. ants thus illustrates both
the individuality and the development
of his art.
A number of the prints. Furthermore.
have come from famous collections, such
as those Of Mortimer Menpes. bray.on
Ives, II. L. Quick, F. S. butcher and
Pierre Lorillard. Some OF the frames
were originally owned by Whistler and
show what his taste in the choice OF
molding was.
prints very close, leaving little tab
for the signature, and the majority OF
these prints are so trimmed Whistier 5
theory, set down in THE Gentle Art or
Making Enemies" was that the practice
of "Remaraue" was odious and that no
margin should be left on the proof for
such purpose Pictures. he claimed
should be framed close, and in the case
of q print the mat should begin where
such mating essential he trimmed his
prints. In theory he is probably cor
rect. but in practice the trimmed print
with the signature tab is apt to have
a little air of mutilation.
Another of Whistler's theories. and a
very sound one. was that etchings
should be small. His argument for
this was that the space covered should
always be in proper relation to the
means used for covering tin etch-
ing. a fine pointed needle. The ma
jority Of Whistler's plates are small
some even tiny, but they often give
spacious suggestion.
One of the smallest in this collection
is Of the "Menpes Children four in
number. out of doors, presumably on
q beach, one on a high stool and
the others standing or running, each
thoroughly characteristic-yet the whole
print Is smaller than the average post
card
Whistler was born in 1894 in Lowell
MASS and died in London In 1903. He
was the son of Maj. George w. Whist
Ter. an engineer in the United States
Army, under whose direction and de-
sign the first railway was constructed
in Russia 1t was thus that several of
Whistler's boyhood years were spent
In Petrograd. For a time he was a
cadet at West Point. but his artistic
temperament did not fit him for a milf
tary career and after a time and re-
peated futile efforts to submit to dis
cfpiine he was dismissed. For . while
ne was employed in the coast survey
mere in Washington. but again restraint
ana authority harassed and he drifted
away finally to Paris He was only
twenty when he reached the French
capital. but his personality was even
tnen strongly marked. From the frst
ne seems to have been his own master.
IL was in Paris that he began etch-
ing. and his interest in the medium
was undoubtedly strengthened by as
sociation with Sir Seymour Haden.
who married his half-sister and at
whose home in England whistler long
resided Whistler published his firef
series OF etchings in Paris in 1859. al
the age or twenty-five. There were
n rrsen IN, IN me set and they sold for ap-
times as much and even more. Two Of
these are included in the Ralph King
cohection-Street at Saverne,'' which
n,cb Ps5haps, the first Of Whistler great
Loques. picture OF an old woman
seated in doorway. a proof signed by
Wnissier many years after IL was pub
Msneo. thus showing his approval of
inherent from those which followed In
z Few years, but there is no sur0es-
cion In them of the novice. of the ex-
per1menter. things are seen more in
'ht lines are more evident. the
technique. more obvious but that Is Ali
From Paris Whistler went to Lon
don and there he fell under the smell,
OF the great river which makes tina I
cry Wnat IL rs. Then came the Thames
set. which. in the estimation of many
represents Whistier's supreme accom-
piishment. This series alone" Mr.
fenneil has said. is enough to win i'm
moItaIty Tor any man." There were
sixteen plates in this set and fhey
were etched for the most part In 1ass
Du. they were not published-no pub-
I1sher would have them--until 1871 To
ms series belongs "Rotherhithe," a won.
osriul plate. and one In which figure.
OF two men are prominently nIaceS +,
the foreground -
The year 1859 must have been a fruit
iui one. Tor not only do the French
h hna t me Thames sets date from then
oui the portraits of "Bibf VaIentin !.
niue French child. and Drouet Tb,
portrait of the sculptor Becauet. ont
OF the most famous OF all Whistler.
sixteen ee portraits at t. belongs to the set o.
lection. WI
50 also is his charming etching of Arni.
Hsden in cap and cloak, his picture OF tn.
Music Room with his sister and 81,
Seymour Haden seated either side of :
round table. on which Is a lighted ,aron
ms portrait Of Lord Wolseiey and ngur,
chair. Weary" both extremely snh.h
works Here. too. Is to be seen the Adam
ana Eve Tavern, Old Chelsea" which r,re
cedeo MS adoption Of dry point in ISL
etching. Vi por'
There are. what is more. numerous ex
anmpies or the beautiful Venice sets--th,
IWenty-six and the .Twelve"-in whici
whistler seems to have arrived at m,
unit OF the power Of the medium and o
inc possibilities Of acute artistic exp~es
sion IL Is possible that in these the Ian
dnese influence is felt. but as no one IA
ever been able to initiate Whistler or conn
Mnctiy individual and the shadow OF none
ttie Venice. one Of the twelve. is her
rom the Menpes collection eeu,-,eii
ing IN It's Few magical lines the whole sfor-
OF venice. Its charm. its nagnificauce N
romance. Here. too, Is THE Bridge. on
OF me twenty six. showing a curious view
pony, looking down from above whic]
painters in recent days have adons.d NJ
infrequenfiy. but which used to be though
impossiote OF rendering. There are HI
Nocturne Palaces" Two Doorwavs ~
The Balcony" Long and ..Upri9ht
Venice. doorway and vine"-alI fan,on
plates: the last Illustrating an interestin
use OF dark and light at the center ~
composition. is the focus OF interest
Mr. Penneli said OF Whistler: aHe VIA
the greatest etcher and the most accom-
plished photographer who ever lived. a
his work Ii alike perfect The creates
the most perfect as whole that an
etcher has ever accomplished" And thj
j. the testimony of one who is hiu,sel
The King collection is adrairablv cboss
and gives heightened interest to anticj
patton of the Freer collection. which ever
tuaily will ind permanent place and 81