Life of James McNeill Whistler, . casion when an American wanted to buy some etchings, andthey were to lunch with him in the City to arrange the matter. Takinga hansom, late of course, they passed a grocers where Whistler stoppedthe driver : Well, Chase, what do you think ? If I get him to movethe box of oranges ? What ? And then, still later, they drove time, Chase expressed surprise at Whistlers refusing to delivera picture to the lady who had bought it. But Whistler explained : You know, Chase, the people dont really want anything fill a room by chance with beautif
Life of James McNeill Whistler, . casion when an American wanted to buy some etchings, andthey were to lunch with him in the City to arrange the matter. Takinga hansom, late of course, they passed a grocers where Whistler stoppedthe driver : Well, Chase, what do you think ? If I get him to movethe box of oranges ? What ? And then, still later, they drove time, Chase expressed surprise at Whistlers refusing to delivera picture to the lady who had bought it. But Whistler explained : You know, Chase, the people dont really want anything fill a room by chance with beautiful things, and some littletrumpery something over the mantelpiece gives the whole damnedshow away. And if they pay a hundred pounds or so for a picture,they think it belongs to them. Well—why—it should only be theirsfor a while ; hung on their walls that they may rejoice in it and thenreturned. Once, it is said, a lady drove up to the studio and toldhim : I have bought one of your pictures, it is beautiful, but as it236 [1885. NOCTURNE IN BLUE AND GOLDOLD BATTERSEA BRIDGE OIL In the National Gallery of British Art, Tate Gallery {Seepage 171) The Studio in the Fulham Road is always at exhibitions I never see it. But Im told you have Dear lady, said Whistler, you have been misinformed, it is nothere. And she drove away. Later he found it : Hm, she wasright about one thing, it is beautiful. But because shes paid hundredsof pounds for it, she thinks she ought to have it all the time. Sheslucky if she gets it now and then. It must be admitted that it is not easy from any standpoint towrite of Whistler during the years that followed his return fromVenice. The decade between 1880 and 1890 is the fullest of his fulllife. It was during these ten years that he opened his one man shows amidst jeers, and closed them with success. It was duringthese ten years that he conquered society, though society never realisedit. It was during these ten years that, to make himself known, hebe
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