Evening star., 1921-09-11
Famous Art Collection
Has a Beautiful Home

relationship existing between the
ancient oriental and modern art mas
terpieces can now be verified. lie
demonstrated his discovery by selec-
tions from the works of Winslow
Homer. John Singer Sargent. j. Carl
Melchers, Thomas Wilmer DewinS.
Joseph Linden Smith. Childe Hassam.
Abbot Henderson Thayer. Dwight
man and James McNeill Whistler
Seven galleries are required TO eN-
hibit these examples
With all obeisance to ten of these
artists. the thrill of the gallery is
the Whistler collection Mr.. Freer-
was the first American collector to
begin to gather the works Of this
famous artist.
His l.200 Whistler specimens require
three large galleries, besides special and
separate space for the worldwide fa-
nous peacock room.
When this famous peacock room WAS
thrown on the market Mr.. Freer was the
ready and quick purchaser. The entire
contents, inside woodwork and decora-
tlonS were transported to his home in
Detroit and reconstructed precisely as
they stood in the Leland House in Lon
don, and the entire contents are again
reconstructed in the gallery exactly as
they stood in the annex Mr.. Freer built
especially for them in Detroit
THE history of this room really be-
gins with the rose and silver pic
ture-'La Princess du Pays de la Por-
celaine." 1t was Rosetti who suggested
to Whistler that Christine Spartali.
afterward Countess de Cohen. and sis
ter of his model. Mrs. S;illman. better
known as Marie Spariali, would be the
exact model for his proposed princess.
1t was also Rosetti who negotiated the
sale of the picture to a collector, from
whom it was purchased by Frederick Il.
Leland for 420 guineas. A year after
Whistier's death MIR. Freer paid 5000
1 guineas for the lovely princess. Dressed
| as she is in a Madame Butterfiy's
| clothes. she is far from looking the part
, of the Madame Butterfly of opera fame
| Only her beautiful clothes" and the
setting are Japanese. The entire color
scheme and setting were inspired by d
Japanese screen and robe in Whistlers
poSseSSion-and with these gorgeous
properties" and the pretty Greek girl
| he made an arresting and unforgettable
picture.
When Mr.. Leland bought the house in
Princes Gate he made many radical
alterations in its construction and deco
rauons The dining room was made
| over over according to the taste of "A Mr..
Jeckyll-and the princess was TO be the
glory and pride of the room. When
|
board. saw the result ne convinced Mi
| Leland of its monstrous incongruity and
inconsistency and offered to undo
JeckylIs work and make a setting him.
self worthy of the princess
| Poor Jeckyll, overcome by disap-
pointment and humiliation, lost his
mind and died in madhouse. Mr.
Leland retired and Whistler had full
sway He openly declared that he
was going to cover up the Spanish
l NJ
mural decoration of modern times. He
held daily receptions. Acquaintances
and worshiping admirers came TO se.
his dream unfold.
Working out his amazing scheme
| born of his amazing brain. in order
to preserve the continuous theme
lines he closed the shutters and swept
across them at white heat speed On
| the middle shutter he painted two
peacocks with their feathers flying
each of the two f1anking shutters
All the work was well advanced and
! he was about to undertake the deco
| ration of the wall opposite the man
tel and the princess. when he sent
Mr.. Leland bill which doubled the
amount originally agreed upon for
his work. Mr. Leland refused to pay
| the account as rendered, but sent
Whistler $1,000 instead Of the 1000
guineas he had demanded
WHISTLER liked jam on his bread,
but he was artist first He
asked to be permitted to finish the
room. His request was granted and
his revenge was the two frenzied
peacocks. one with feathers splaying
perpendicularly, clutching at a pile
of gold coin, head stretched to the
utmost height and glaring at the
other, whose feathers sweep horizon
tally. with head as high. glaring back
in righteous Indignation and defiance.
I symbolic names. Art" and Money"
which will forever cling to them.
There will always be great areu
ment as to which Of Whistlers work :
i-or which one of his mediums-wiil
perpetuate his fame.
Standards are but condensed
opinions. and time brings about re-
| versals, but il will always be con-
|! ceded that Whistler was the great
I est master of his time.
| The new Freer Art Gallery is his
| shrine in America Thousands and
| thousands will make the pilgrimage
| and stand without sandals in the
presence of his works merely to
| feast their eyes.
Those who know Whistler only as
the painter Oh Inc MOther, as
familiar as Michaelangelo's "Holy
Family" will now have. without
money and without price," the op-
portunity and privilege OF widening
| their knowledge OF the art Of this
versatile master.
The new Freer Art Gallery is not
\ only Whistler's shrine; it is q monu-
ment to the memory Of a great and
discriminating collector and bene-
| factor whose passion was not pos
session, but pursuit and discove:y.
and the satisfaction OF passing de-
light and instruction on to others 10
/ whom fortune is less kind
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