tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390485471778959088.post3471211468163570546..comments2024-03-28T14:29:32.353-05:00Comments on The Devoted Classicist: Rex Whistler MuralsJohn J. Tacketthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17138329330942154191noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390485471778959088.post-28791872021334544082016-06-14T09:26:28.240-05:002016-06-14T09:26:28.240-05:00Thank you for commenting. Just in the last few ye...Thank you for commenting. Just in the last few years there has been renewed appreciation of Rex Whistler with Hugh Cecil's 2012 book and some exhibitions.John J. Tacketthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17138329330942154191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390485471778959088.post-63012464505578979342016-06-11T11:51:07.384-05:002016-06-11T11:51:07.384-05:00This was wonderful - thank you so much!
I saw the...This was wonderful - thank you so much!<br /><br />I saw the room at Mottisfont Abbey when I was ten and it was simply the most incredible thing I have ever seen. The room was rarely open back then - I travelled all the way to Salisbury five times to show it to my partner later in life, and I remember his expression mirrored exactly what mine must have been originally. It literally stuns you into open-mouthed silence...and then the internal battle begins to work out what is real and what is painted. The impetus to touch the walls is virtually overwhelming, as its the only way to make sense of the conflicting information coming into your brain!<br /><br />Of course, there was no internet back then so I was only ever able to find out the basics of Whistler's biography. I hadn't looked for anything for years, tyen I was telling a friend about it last night and came across this whilst searching out photographs. Absolutely fascinating, thank you so much!<br /><br />Its odd - I love his work and I can't believe he's not better-known. But at the same time, it feels like being part of a small little club who know the secret of this magnificent gem. Or maybe that's just me ;-)Pollyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01401635620387298937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390485471778959088.post-47438130012674532802012-10-14T12:36:33.212-05:002012-10-14T12:36:33.212-05:00Sir Philip Sassoon (who himself died tragically ea...Sir Philip Sassoon (who himself died tragically early)was the son of Lady Aline nee Baroness de Rothschild and a great friend of John Singer Sargent who remained friend with both Philip and his sister Sybil Marchioness of Cholomondeley the famed chatelaine of Houghton Hall,NorfolkAndrew Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00850388617355632802noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390485471778959088.post-33899422814049801812012-09-27T12:02:17.073-05:002012-09-27T12:02:17.073-05:00Yes, definitely an artistic genius. More to come ...Yes, definitely an artistic genius. More to come in the next post. Thank you for commenting.John J. Tacketthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17138329330942154191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390485471778959088.post-33156225179580564242012-09-26T22:07:10.221-05:002012-09-26T22:07:10.221-05:00I first came to be aware of Rex Whistler as a teen...I first came to be aware of Rex Whistler as a teenager while living in England, and it was as if I was hit by lightning. My first glimpse of his work was in the dining room at the Tate, and then reading about him in books, with old photos from Country Life. I have been an admirer of his work ever since, the murals, the illustrations, the book covers, and more. A sad, tortured man, it turns out. And an absolute genius. Too young when he dies, his untimely death wrested one of the most talented from our ranks. Marvelous post! ReggieReggie Darlinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04044215790585354363noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390485471778959088.post-61946612721663950342012-09-23T20:23:39.127-05:002012-09-23T20:23:39.127-05:00Insouciance! Thank you for such a classy comment,...Insouciance! Thank you for such a classy comment, D.E.D. I am not indifferent, but might sometimes be perceived as nonchalant. (And I hope a bit witty, but I don't think that comes through on my blog). But it is also Rex Whistler's humor and/or cleverness that is also a delightful feature.John J. Tacketthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17138329330942154191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390485471778959088.post-27827199999432594342012-09-23T20:14:07.744-05:002012-09-23T20:14:07.744-05:00Columnist, I am a big fan of Graham Rust. I met h...Columnist, I am a big fan of Graham Rust. I met him at an exhibition of his renderings at Stubbs Books in New York City about 1987. (Jane Stubbs still has a shop, now located in Bergdorf Goodman; it's highly recommended). Mr Rust's work will be featured later in the series on Decorative Painting.John J. Tacketthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17138329330942154191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390485471778959088.post-48305856799887703212012-09-23T20:08:13.078-05:002012-09-23T20:08:13.078-05:00Mary, it's a high standard, to be sure. But I...Mary, it's a high standard, to be sure. But I look forward to seeing all those trying to equal it. Thanks for your comments.John J. Tacketthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17138329330942154191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390485471778959088.post-63061920792915769032012-09-23T20:05:49.850-05:002012-09-23T20:05:49.850-05:00Thank you for commenting, Penelope. There's m...Thank you for commenting, Penelope. There's more to come.John J. Tacketthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17138329330942154191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390485471778959088.post-86893025782371566872012-09-23T20:03:01.641-05:002012-09-23T20:03:01.641-05:00Susan and Toby, thank you both for your contributi...Susan and Toby, thank you both for your contributions. Both of you are very appreciated commentors, certainly 'holding up your own at table' as we say Down South.John J. Tacketthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17138329330942154191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390485471778959088.post-86186469190075963942012-09-23T10:10:39.093-05:002012-09-23T10:10:39.093-05:00Susan, this makes the second book that you've ...Susan, this makes the second book that you've introduced to me via your<br />blog comments (Adam Nicholson's being the first) and I am delighted to know<br />of the existence of one about Philip and Sybil Sasoon. References to Philip have<br />been, until now, enticingly cryptic; and what we know of Sybil has been limited<br />to her role as chatelaine of Houghton Hall. Many thanks!Toby Worthingtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05887066048372484464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390485471778959088.post-67852826930911947082012-09-23T09:34:05.092-05:002012-09-23T09:34:05.092-05:00My first sighting as an adolescent of Rex Whistler...My first sighting as an adolescent of Rex Whistler's work was another of those aesthetic awakenings that marked me for life---elegance, imagination, and insoucianceThe Down East Dilettantehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13950254669198151850noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390485471778959088.post-86202258672501046222012-09-23T08:05:39.480-05:002012-09-23T08:05:39.480-05:00I have always enjoyed trompe l'oeil and Whistl...I have always enjoyed trompe l'oeil and Whistler's are exceptional, as you note. The detail in the Montisfont Abbey murals is quite staggering. Have you come across a modern day version of Whistler, called Graham Rust:<br /><br />http://grahamrust-murals.com/<br /><br />A delightful man, whom I met through a mutual friend at an exhibition he held in Hong Kong in the 1980s.columnisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03764365428633038329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390485471778959088.post-81427106654409356982012-09-22T23:08:40.014-05:002012-09-22T23:08:40.014-05:00Perfection. I doubt that this talent can be equale...Perfection. I doubt that this talent can be equaled. Thanks.<br />Marymaryhttp://mjhdesignarts.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390485471778959088.post-40238171221260061802012-09-22T22:22:29.799-05:002012-09-22T22:22:29.799-05:00Oh! Please do be long-winded on the subject of de...Oh! Please do be long-winded on the subject of decorative painting!<br /><br />I cannot get enough!<br /><br />Since I was a beginner; good" trompe l'oeil" has fascinated me; and I have used it relentlessly for over 40 years!!!<br /><br />I have been fortunate to have had wonderful artists who could execute it beautifully!!<br />Bravo!!!! what a great post!<br /><br />PenelopeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390485471778959088.post-10929997283086338882012-09-22T22:16:51.127-05:002012-09-22T22:16:51.127-05:00My fascination with Rex Whistler began many years ...My fascination with Rex Whistler began many years ago during a lunch at the Tate amidst those wonderful murals. Afterwards, I began to collect books with covers that he designed. This evening, as I was browsing through my google reader I came across your wonderful post. Thank you! I am also grateful for the link that will actually teach me how to pronounce all those difficult names! I always enjoy your postings but this was fantastic! By the way, the Sasoon's mother was actually a French Rothschild. I highly recommend, The Worlds of Philip and Sybil Sasoon by Peter Stansky. I actually have a "Rex Whistler" label in my reader file -- these posts will definitely be saved! Can't wait for the next one. SusanSusan Adler Sobolnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390485471778959088.post-91819416597927904562012-09-22T21:16:58.862-05:002012-09-22T21:16:58.862-05:00Hels, Rex Whistler's patron relations were not...Hels, Rex Whistler's patron relations were not always without their problems. But the results were lovely, none the less. The short answer to your question of his death is that he was killed in World War II. More will be covered on both factors in the follow-up post (or posts, as I tend to be long-winded on the subject of decorative painting). Thanks for your comments.John J. Tacketthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17138329330942154191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390485471778959088.post-63098960967493244072012-09-22T18:46:25.008-05:002012-09-22T18:46:25.008-05:00Whistler had wonderful patrons, did't he? I be...Whistler had wonderful patrons, did't he? I believe that even the most talented artists require great patrons to create a notable oeuvre over a complete career. But why did Whistler die in his 30s? What a tragic waste of talent.Helshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02849907428208235392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390485471778959088.post-83617977432228793612012-09-22T16:27:18.820-05:002012-09-22T16:27:18.820-05:00Thanks, Dean. Although I am only skimming the sur...Thanks, Dean. Although I am only skimming the surface, I hope to provide enough information to inspire the Devoted Readers to search some of these subjects in more depth. And I also appreciate your sharing this blog.John J. Tacketthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17138329330942154191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390485471778959088.post-27258469829218565362012-09-22T14:43:15.718-05:002012-09-22T14:43:15.718-05:00Dear John,
What I adore about TDC is that it is be...Dear John,<br />What I adore about TDC is that it is becoming ever more scholarly in its presentation. Thanks for this highly intelligent and well researched piece-my old friend Deb King of Winston-Salem,NC and Florence, Italy will enjoy this too as she often restores murals and frescoes...<br />DFDean Farrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11651467227402717540noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390485471778959088.post-51040483914355810132012-09-22T14:21:16.740-05:002012-09-22T14:21:16.740-05:00Devoted Readers, I do hope you'll click on the...Devoted Readers, I do hope you'll click on the link to The DiCamillo Companion and go to the Pronunciation Guide to House Names whenever the need arises. It tells us that Port Lympne is "port LIM" and Plas Newydd is "PLASS NEU-id" or "PLASS NEU-ith".John J. Tacketthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17138329330942154191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390485471778959088.post-77150994535085079062012-09-22T12:23:34.871-05:002012-09-22T12:23:34.871-05:00Mark, the next post of this series will go into th...Mark, the next post of this series will go into that a bit more. But yes, a lot was packed into his last decade, not just murals, but other forms as well. Thank you for commenting.John J. Tacketthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17138329330942154191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390485471778959088.post-16587828444022747022012-09-22T12:21:03.287-05:002012-09-22T12:21:03.287-05:00Michele, seeing the setting makes a difference, do...Michele, seeing the setting makes a difference, doesn't it? I have an on-going series of essays on decorative painting (though not with any regularity), so keep an eye out for future posts on more recent works.John J. Tacketthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17138329330942154191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390485471778959088.post-32339225499082433792012-09-22T12:17:50.965-05:002012-09-22T12:17:50.965-05:00Toby, one might think that the photo was staged. ...Toby, one might think that the photo was staged. And perhaps it was, but it does appear that a great deal of the mural at Plas Newydd (that Welsh spelling will do us all in!) was done on site. Clearly it was more interesting for Rex Whistler to be at the house, in any case. Thank you very much for your contributions.John J. Tacketthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17138329330942154191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390485471778959088.post-29690660695306222712012-09-22T12:10:30.858-05:002012-09-22T12:10:30.858-05:00Parnassus, I think you have hit the point exactly....Parnassus, I think you have hit the point exactly. It is that rare talent of making the mural truly special that creates such an enduring art form.John J. Tacketthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17138329330942154191noreply@blogger.com