The Gentle Art of Making Enemies Part 16

"Even such a well-worn subject as the Riva degli Schiavoni is made original (?) by being taken from a high point of view, and looked at lengthwise, instead of from the ca.n.a.l."

31.--DRURY LANE.

"In Mr. Whistler's productions one might safely say that there is no culture."--_Athenaeum._

32.--THE BALCONY.

"His colour is subversive."--_Russian Press._

33.--ALDERNEY STREET.

"The best art may be produced with trouble."

_F. Wedmore._[27]

[Note 27: "I am not a Mede nor a Persian."--F.

WEDMORE.]

34.--THE SMITHY.

"They produce a disappointing impression."

"His Etchings seem weak when framed."[28]

_P. G. Hamerton._

[Note 28: Mr. Hamerton does also say:

"Indifference to beauty is however compatible with splendid success in etching, as the career of Rembrandt proved."--_Etching and Etchers._]

35.--STABLES.

"An unpleasing thing, and framed in Mr. Whistler's odd fas.h.i.+on."--_City Press._

36.--THE MAST.

[Sidenote: _REFLECTION:_

At the service of critics of unequal sizes.

[Ill.u.s.tration]]

"The Mast and the Little Mast are dependent for much of their interest, on the drawing of festoons of cord hanging from unequal heights."

_P. G. Hamerton._

37.--TRAGHETTO.

"The artist's present principles seem to deny him any effective chiaroscuro."--_P. G. Hamerton._

[Sidenote: _REFLECTION:_

"Sometimes generally always."

[Ill.u.s.tration]]

"Mr. Whistler's figure drawings, generally defective and always incomplete."

38.--FIs.h.i.+NG BOAT.

"Subjects unimportant in themselves."

_P. G. Hamerton._

39.--PONTE PIOVAN.

"Want of variety in the handling."

_St. James's Gazette._

40.--GARDEN.

"An art which is happier in the gloom of a doorway than in the glow of the suns.h.i.+ne, and turns with a pleasant blindness from whatsoever in Nature or Man is of perfect beauty or n.o.ble thought."--_'Arry._

41.--THE RIALTO.

"Mr. Whistler has etched too much for his reputation."--_F. Wedmore._

[Sidenote: _REFLECTION:_

This critic, true, is a Slade Professor.

[Ill.u.s.tration]]

"Scampering caprice."--_S. Colvin._