File:Life of James McNeill Whistler, (1911) (14596907239).jpg

Identifier: jamesmcnei00penn (find matches)
Title: Life of James McNeill Whistler,
Year: 1911 (1910s)
Authors: Pennell, Elizabeth Robins,
Subjects: American Art
Publisher: J. B. Lippincott company
Contributing Library: Whitney Museum of American Art, Frances Mulhall Achilles Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Metropolitan New York Library Council - METRO

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. The Judge pointed out that there are certain words by Mr. Ruskin,about which I should think no one would entertain a doubt: those wordsamount to a libel. The critic should confine himself to criticism andnot make it a veil for personal censure or for showing his power. Thequestion for the jury is, did Mr. Whistlers ideas of art justify thelanguage used by Mr. Ruskin ? And the further question is whetherthe insult offered—if insult there has been—is of such a gross characteras to call for substantial damages ? Whether it is a case for merelycontemptuous damages to the extent of a farthing, or something ofthat sort, indicating that it is one which ought never to have beenbrought into court, and in which no pecuniary damage has beensustained ; or whether the case is one which calls for damages in somesmall sum as indicating the opinion of the jury that the offender hasgone beyond the strict letter of the law. After an hours deliberation, the jury gave their verdict for the176 (1878
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PORTRAIT OF MISS LEYLAXD PASTEL In the possession of the Executors of Mrs. F. R. LeylandSeepage 124* The Trial plaintiff—damages one farthing. The judge emphasised his contemptby giving judgment for the plaintiff without costs; that is, both sideshad to pay. It is said that Whistler wore the farthing on his watch-chain. Wenever saw it, we never knew him to wear a watch-chain. But hemade a drawing of the farthing for The Gentle Art. The whole thing was a hateful affair, Burne-Jones wrote toRossetti, and many agreed with him, though for other reasons. TheTimes, the Spectator, and the Portfolio pronounced the verdict satis-factory to neither party, virtually a censure upon both, who alikewould suffer heavily. Mr. Graves, who watched the trial withoutthe responsibility he was disposed to meet, says: I have always felt that, had the plaintiffs counsel impressed uponthe jury that Mr. Ruskin had mentioned the price asked for the picture,a matter that has always been outside the critics pro

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