International studio (21.1903/1904(1904))

y^7V<?27/

developments on lines distinctly different from their
forerunners. There are quite a number of portraits,
both of men and women, including several of Mr.
Joseph Pennell, a sketch of W. E. Henley, one of
Mrs. Pennell lit by the light of the Rre, very
suggestive of its flickering lights and shades, a
charming study of a child, ZzAA^ Zyg/r72, and
another of a lady at needlework ; but, delightful as
they all are, they fade into insignificance beside
the splendid perfection of 7%; Zzky/a. Few people
have been privileged to see this exquisite work, a
study of the artist's wife resting upon a couch
covered with white drapery. The pathos of the
subject and the perfection of its rendering make it
safe to prophesy that, come who may in the future,
he will never write upon stone a more exquisite
song. It was drawn at the Savoy Hotel whilst
Whistler was staying there, and was one of the

eight prints which he then made. Another, the
last litho-tint which he ever did, has been already
referred to. It is entitled 2%? ZXawzM, and is the
füllest and richest in subject of the wash-drawings,
and for it he was awarded the gold medal in the
International Exhibition in Paris, where it was
exhibited. Drawn from a window high up in the
hotel, it shows the whole width of the river sweep-
ing past full of barges, with the shot-tower and
Smoking chimneys of the Surrey side. Below,
in the foreground, is the Embankment with passing
cabs and figures seen through the screen of
branches of the trees in the gardens; in all, a
wonderfully interesting and beautiful picture.
This was not obtained, however, in its first state,
but the artist wrought at it until he had brought
about its final perfection. Another very charming
print, and quite different in treatment from any
other he had done, is
the ZazYwrrr
almost entirely
in stump, with the dark
bridge seen against the
broad light river and after-
noon sky; and yet another
is the Z22AZ ZwzZw, a
miniature indeed in scalet
but suggesting in its tiny
surface the vastness of the
city, with its Crown of St.
Paul's Cathedral.
After the Savoy drawings
the artist commenced a
series of London churches,
and drew two of them,
ZA Z^<?, and ZA
LWAf - 2*73 - - ZMAalas,
that no more were done !
Many times have our
churches been drawn, and
by many hands, but his
drawings give such a fresh
vision of their beauty that
the loss of those which
would have followed is
greatly to be deplored.
Their wonderful faithful-
ness as portraits of the
buildings themselves, the
Suggestion of the colour
and surface of the stone-
work, especially in the ZA
(ZfZy, give absolute satisfac-
tion to all who see them.


STUDY FOR. THE PORTRAIT OF M!SS ALEXANDER BY J. MCNEILL WHtSTLER
f Fp p/ PK FwrpF Fsy. J

19