Norwich bulletin., 1921-11-23
Famous Trials
JOHN RUSKIN.

An unusual incident in the life Of the American painter Whistler was that of his suit for libel against John Ruskin the English critic.
 On Nov. 25. 1878, the plaintiff alleged that the defendant had libeled him in a criticism on one of his pictures exhibited in the Grosvenor gallery entitled "A Noe turne in Black and Gold" The follow ing is the objectionable passage which caused the suit:
 Tor MT KVhistIer's sake, no less than for the protection of the purchaser, Sir C0utts Lindsay ought not to have ad- mitted works into the gallery in which the ill-educated conceit of the artist so nearly approached the aspetc of wilful inposture 1 have seen and heard much of cockney inpudence before now, but never expected to hear a coxcomb ask POO guineas for finging pot of paint in the public's face"
 The defense of Ruskir was that the libel was privileged as being bona fide and 9 fair criticism of the painting in question.
 When cross examined by the attorney 1 general Whistler admitted that he had sent pictures to the Royal academy which were not exhibited Also that he l believed that that was the experience of ! all artists The picture, Arrangement 1 in Black and Gold is a night view of l Cfemorne With the fireworks That is I the reason l called it a nocturne! It was | for sale. I also marked it at 200 guineas. l It was 9 good price very likely stiffish i price" The complainant also admitted l he had completed the work in two days. But it was, as Whistler said, Not the l 2o0 guireas for two days work but for the result Of the study of a lifetime'' The attorney general then proposed i bringing the picture into court, but this 1 was oYerruIed and instead the jurists went to the Grosvenor gallery and viewed all the various works of the artist. Various artists were brought into, the 1 court to testify as to whether or not the l picture was or was not. as Ruskin had said worth 200 guineas. This Ietf the jury as far off as ever, for half decided one way and half the other If d persor belonged to the modern school the picture was certainly worth the discussed price
 but if the witness was believer in tn, old English masters, then Whistler was falzer imposing on the public
 Rus1in himself was far too i'll to at
 tend the court. The word ''coxcon1i'
 was then looked up. What was a "cox
 comb?' The attorney general had found
 that the word came from the old idea Q
 ---- i-N---oCtt JIStSlf N-1O SOIG d cap a1C
 bells with a cocks comb in it, and wen
 about making jests for the amusement o his master and family. t'Mr Whistler
 he said. should not complain if thi
 were true, for most of his pictures wer
 capital jokes and afforded much amuse ment to the public"
 An artist. MT. Firth, R. A., was thel
 called He said that the works b,
 Whistler that had been produced in tn
 court were works of art They were cer
 tainly pretty and there was a beautiful
 arrangement of color. But so, indeed
 piece of silk had both these qualities, bu
 it was not a work of art He also testj 1 fed that Rusl{in was not partial to Whis ) tier alone. The great favorite of Ruskir Turner. had had one picture criticized His 'The Snowstornn" had been describe
 as a mass of soapsuds and whitewash.
 This was one of Turner's latest works.
 In summing up, Baron Huddlesten sai
 that it was for the jury to decide whethe = the criticism was bona f1de or the resul I of personal malice.
 The jury seriously retired, and ben
 out for more than an hour they asked tn
 learned judge for the meaning of in words ''wiIful imposture.'' Once more IF tiring, they came back with the verdie for the plaintiff. The learned judge the
 soIemnly gave judgment for the plairti
 damages one farthing (half a cent : and without costs.