Artists express very positive opinions regarding the merits of his pictures, placing some with the best the world has done, others as quite unworthy the master. As no two painters agree which are the best and which are the least worthy, the layman is helpless. In truth, only Whistler himself could have pointed out all the qualities and defects, and this he never did. If pressed for an opinion or a preference, he would evade the question, or by deftly speaking of this or that quality of the works under discussion would leave his hearers with the impression they knew all about the matter, when in reality they were no wiser than before. He simply did not care to discuss his work intimately with the lay or the professional mind. What he saw was beyond their comprehension, or if not beyond their comprehension, then they saw it without further words from him, for did not the picture speak plainly for itself?
Contrary to general impression, he was patience itself in his studio. A sitter who was with him every day for nearly six weeks never heard him utter an impatient word; on the contrary, he was all kindness. He would permit his sitter to bring friends to the studio, and he would listen to all the foolish suggestions that could occur to a tired and impatient man.
Sometimes he would rebuke a too-insistent sitter, as the following anecdotes show, if true:
It is said that one man annoyed him by saying at the end of each sitting:
“How about that ear, Mr. Whistler? Don’t forget to finish that!”
At the last sitting, everything being done except this ear, Whistler said:
“Well, I think I am through. Now I’ll sign it.” Which he did in a very solemn, important manner, as was his way.
“But my ear, Mr. Whistler! You aren’t going to leave it that way?”
“Oh, you can put it in after you get home.”
He was once painting the portrait of a distinguished novelist, who, though extremely clever, was not blessed with the fatal gift of beauty. When the portrait was finished, the sitter did not seem satisfied with it.