194 REPORTS FROM THE SECTIONS. 
imitated, his ong are a medley made up of starveling models, 
shreds, and bits of armour from his lumber-room, brushe into 
notice by a darin sensi 
e recent action, Whistler v. ae furnishes us with 
an. excellent illustration of how opinions differ upon works of 
art. Ruskin, in a pamphlet entitled “Fors Clavigera,” which 
severely criticised the modern school of. art, 
Mr. Whistler’s eccentric ee styled “ Nocturnes” and 
“ Arrangements,” exhibited in the Grosvenor Gallery, remarked 
that for Mr. Whistler’s own sake, no less than for the pro- 
a of the purchasers, Sir Coutts Lindsay ought not to have 
ks into the gallery in which the ill-educated conceits 
of the artist so nearly Spproach the aspect of wilful impostures. 
“ T have seen,” he said, “much of Cockney impudence before now, 
but never expected to hear a coxcomb ask 200 guineas for flinging 
a pot of paint in the public face.” This was trenchant criticism 
with a vengeance. What said the experts who were called on 
to express opinions on Mr. istler’s works ? W. M. 
tti, the well-known art critic, “admired them sincerely.” 
Mr. Albert Moore, an artist, considered them “ beautiful works of 
art.” Mr. Wills, dramatic author and artist, considered that they 
that neither in camyryaae nor in detail, nor in form, had it any 
quality whatever. Another he described as being even “ more 
formless ;” of a third, thes not having even the merit of the other 
two.” Frit h, the R.A., said that he “did not consider Mr. Whist- 
ler’s pictures ‘serious works of art; there was beautiful soe 
Tom Taylor, the well-known art critic, considered them only one 
step nearer pictures than delicately ei essen a0 When we 
thus see how doctors differ, it behoves us with our untutored eyes 
to be more modest than we gene are in Givi our opinions. 
Baron Huddlestone, in the course of the above _ Seco ed an 
amusing anecdote, which, although it may be known to many of 
you, will bear repetition. The counsel for the defends vised to 
produce a picture, by Titian, in Court, to show what wa finished 
work. The Baron thought this was going too far, as ee eee 
me of the works of the great Turner, * 
most pootical artist on modern times, have not escaped adv 
