System Number: 08910
Date: 21 November 1877
Author: James Anderson Rose[1]
Place: London
Recipient: [none]
Repository: Library of Congress
Call Number: Manuscript Division, Pennell-Whistler Collection, PWC
Document Type: PD
1877. - W. - No. 818.
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE.
QUEEN'S BENCH DIVISION.
DELIVERED THE 21ST DAY OF NOVEMBER 1877.
WHISTLER
v.
RUSKIN[2].
STATEMENT OF CLAIM.
J. ANDERSON ROSE,
11. SALISBURY STREET,
STRAND, MIDDLESEX,
PLAINTIFF'S SOLICITOR.
(p. 2) '34'[3]
1877. - W. - No. 818.
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE.
QUEEN'S BENCH DIVISION.
FOS. 6.
WRIT ISSUED THE 28TH DAY OF JULY 1877.
BETWEEN JAMES ABBOTT McNEILL WHISTLER - PLAINTIFF
AND
JOHN RUSKIN - - - - - - DEFENDANT.
STATEMENT OF CLAIM
DELIVERED ON THE 21ST DAY OF NOVEMBER, 1877, BY MR. JAMES ANDERSON ROSE, OF NO. 11 SALISBURY STREET, STRAND, IN THE COUNTY OF MIDDLESEX, PLAINTIFF'S SOLICITOR.
1. THE PLAINTIFF IS AN ARTIST AND SELLS PICTURES PAINTED BY HIM.
2. SHORTLY BEFORE THE PUBLICATION BY THE DEFENDANT OF THE LIBEL HEREINAFTER MENTIONED THE PLAINTIFF HAD EXHIBITED IN A GALLERY CALLED THE GROSVENOR GALLERY OPENED TO THE PUBLIC BY SIR COUTTS LINDSAY[4] ON PAYMENT OF AN ENTRANCE FEE CERTAIN PICTURES PAINTED BY THE PLAINTIFF.
3. ON OR ABOUT THE 2ND DAY OF JULY 1877 THE DEFENDANT PRINTED AND PUBLISHED IN A PAMPHLET CALLED "FORS CLAVIGERA[5]" THE WORDS FOLLOWING THAT IS TO SAY -
"LASTLY, THE MANNERISMS AND ERRORS OF THESE PICTURES," (MEANING SOME PICTURES BY MR. BURNE JONES[6]) "WHATEVER MAY BE THEIR EXTENT, ARE NEVER AFFECTED OR INDOLENT. THE WORK IS NATURAL TO THE PAINTER, HOWEVER STRANGE TO US; AND IT IS WROUGHT WITH UTMOST CONSCIENCE OF CARE, HOWEVER FAR, TO HIS OWN OR OUR DESIRE, THE RESULT MAY YET BE INCOMPLETE. SCARCELY SO MUCH CAN BE SAID FOR ANY OTHER PICTURES OF THE MODERN SCHOOLS: THEIR ECCENTRICITIES ARE ALMOST ALWAYS IN SOME DEGREE FORCED; AND THEIR IMPERFECTIONS GRATUITOUSLY, IF NOT IMPERTINENTLY, INDULGED. FOR MR. WHISTLER'S OWN SAKE, NO LESS THAN FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE PURCHASER, SIR COUTTS LINDSAY OUGHT [p. 3] NOT TO HAVE ADMITTED WORKS INTO THE GALLERY IN WHICH THE ILL-EDUCATED CONCEIT OF THE ARTIST SO NEARLY APPROACHED THE ASPECT OF WILFUL IMPOSTURE. I HAVE SEEN, AND HEARD, MUCH OF COCKNEY IMPUDENCE BEFORE NOW; BUT NEVER EXPECTED TO HEAR A COXCOMB ASK TWO HUNDRED GUINEAS FOR FLINGING A POT OF PAINT IN THE PUBLIC'S FACE."
4. THE EXPRESSION MR. WHISTLER REFERS TO THE PLAINTIFF.
5. THE SAID LIBEL WAS FALSELY AND MALICIOUSLY PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY THE DEFENDANT OF THE PLAINTIFF. THE PLAINTIFF'S REPUTATION AS AN ARTIST HAS BEEN MUCH DAMAGED BY THE SAID LIBEL.
THE PLAINTIFF CLAIMS -
1. £1,000.
2. THE COSTS OF THIS ACTION.
THE PLAINTIFF PROPOSES THAT THIS ACTION BE TRIED IN THE COUNTY OF MIDDLESEX.
This document is protected by copyright.
Notes:
1. James Anderson Rose
James Anderson Rose (1819-1890), solicitor [more].
2. '34'
Written in another hand.
3. RUSKIN
John Ruskin (1819-1900), critic, social reformer and artist [more]. The case of Whistler v. Ruskin was heard at the Queen's Bench of the High Court on 25-26 November 1878.
4. Sir Coutts Lindsay
Sir Coutts Lindsay (1824-1913), Bart., co-founder of the Grosvenor Gallery [more]. Ruskin attacked the works exhibited by JW in 1st Summer Exhibition, Grosvenor Gallery, London, 1877.
5. Fors Clavigera
Ruskin, John, 'Letter the Seventy-ninth' Fors Clavigera, 2 July 1877, pp. 181-213.
6. Mr. Burne Jones
Edward Coley Burne-Jones (1833-1898), painter and designer [more].