James Abbott McNeill Whistler

In 1885, when William chase tracked down in London James McNeill Whistlerhe was already famous, arranged personal exhibitions, received the title of honorary member of the Academy of arts in Munich, many awards and admiring comments. Chase a new younger friend for 15 years – and the manner of painting of Whistler delighted. Artists manage to be friends, what happened to Whistler are rarely, briefly, from someone else's enthusiasm and naivete, the contemporaries of the chorus claim that Whistler was just unbearable.

For some time the artists closer together so that going to journey together to Holland and agreed to paint portraits of each other, and then submit them to one of the joint exhibitions. Whistler and chase stretched in this adventurous short-lived, and soon start drive each other mad. First posed for the chase, posed a long time and almost without hope ever to take the Whistler role. And once finally on the other side of the canvas, I decided as a sign of admiration to write each in his own manner using your favorite color combinations of Whistler and his compositional discoveries. He lays favorite pastel, hiding the bright colors and fires bright shades, he paints a portrait of the artist, inspired by one of his most impressive works "Arrangement in grey and black No. 1"and "Portrait Of Theodore Duret". In the upper part of the picture – visible sweeping signature "To my friend Whistler. William Chase".

In the midst of a quarrel chase does not stand up and runs away from Whistler, taking nearly completed portrait. About any joint exhibition, of course, the question has to be – and chase shows his work in new York itself. Whistler enraged, journalists and spectators in awe and confusion: "The picture is so striking in the transmission of personality and artistic style Whistler that seem almost mockery". But Whistler wants to put an end to these relations, to write in an ex boyfriend bitter enemies, but his painting to call "a monstrous lampoon".

The portrait of chase, which was so long and tedious, nowhere did not appear. Resentful Whistler destroyed it.

Author: Anna K.and