Documents associated with: Bible
Record 12 of 46
System Number: 13433
Date: [November 1885/1888][1]
Author: JW
Place: [London]
Recipient: [Society of British Artists][2]
Place: [London]
Repository: [Published][3]
Document Type: PWc
The Press have ye always with you, feed my lambs[4].
This document is protected by copyright.
Notes:
1. [November 1885/1888]
Dated by JW's chief involvement in exhibitions at the Society of British Artists.
2. Society of British Artists
JW first exhibited with the SBA in 1884, was elected President in 1886, and resigned in 1888.
3. [Published]
Pennell records: 'Mr. Sidney Starr tells a story of one of these press views, when Whistler had not hung his picture, but only the frame: "Telegrams were sent imploring the placing of the canvas, But the only answer that came was, 'The Press have ye always with you, feed my lambs.' (Pennell, Elizabeth Robins, and Joseph Pennell, The Life of James McNeill Whistler, 2 vols, London and Philadelphia, 1908, vol. 2, p. 58).
4. feed my lambs
A composite quotation from the Bible, John 12.8, 'For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always', and John 21.15, 'So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.'