Sir—Pray accept my compliments, and be good enough to inform me at once by whose authority, and upon what pretence, the painting, designed and executed by myself, upon the panel at the entrance of the The Morning Post. galleries of Suffolk Street, has been defaced. Tampering with the work of an artist, however obscure, is held to be, in what might be called the international laws of the whole Art world, so villainous an offence, that I must at present decline to entertain the responsibility of the very distinguished and Royal Society of British Artists, for what must be due to the rash, and ill-considered, zeal of some enthusiastic and untutored underling.
Awaiting your reply, I have the honour to be, Sir, your obedient, humble servant,
Telegram to Council of Royal Society of British Artists:
"Congratulations upon dignity maintained as Artists left in charge of a brother Artist's work, and upon graceful bearing as officers toward their late President."—Whistler.
To the Hon. Secretary
of the Royal Society of British Artists.
March 30, 1889.
An Embroidered Interview
Pall Mall Gazette, April 3, 1889.
"Well, Mr. Whistler, they say they only painted out your butterfly from the signboard, and changed the date. What do you say?"
"What do I say? That they have been guilty of an act of villainous Vandalism."
"Will you tell me the history of the Board?"