Comments on: The art of Rex Whistler, 1905–1944

By: Rod Bramall

Rod Bramall — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 18:32:47 +0000

Years ago I acquired a print of Rex Whistler’s work for a Rothmans cigarette advert called “The matinee Idol”. I am looking at it now on my wall.

By: frances gosbell

frances gosbell — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 09:29:34 +0000

Rex rates an entry in the French Dictionnaire du Ballet Moderne published in 1959 even if he is neglected elsewhere. His ballet decors are featured in Gala Performance published 1955, featuring the drop curtain design for La Spectre de la Rose and designs for
The Rake’s Progress. The latter book includes a very handsome small photo portrait of Mr Whistler credited to Harrods.

By: Lucy Watson

Lucy Watson — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 15:06:24 +0000

His murals are lovely, but my favourite of his work is his self portrait in his Welsh Guards uniform – it made for a lovely poster that was on sale at the time of the “Rex Whistler’s War” exhibition at the National Army Museum a few years ago. I met someone recently whose grandfather had served with Rex and Rex had painted the angel that has sat at the top of his family’s Christmas tree for the last 60 odd years.

By: Maureen Emerson

Maureen Emerson — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 21:52:45 +0000

I have just published a biography of Winifred, Lady Fortescue and her entourage – title Escape to Provence. The Paget family, and thus Plas Newydd and Rex Whistler are an important part of this book. The curator of Modern British Pictures at the Louvre in Paris is deeply interested in Rex Whistler. I met this gentleman last year and have corresponded with him. He is one of those responsible for the new Louvre at Lens in northern France. Hopefully he may one day be able to introduce a Rex Whistler painting. But he has made no promises!

By: John

John — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 01:25:38 +0000

Hi Nigel. Many thanks for taking the time to post that information. I didn’t know Stephen Calloway had written about Whistler, I’ll have to track down a copy of his book, he’s always very thorough.

By: Nigel Shillito

Nigel Shillito — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 14:35:52 +0000

Hi. Rex Whistler was indeed a rare and gifted spirit whose life touched and entwined with a large number of influential and talented peiople of his day. Through his friendship with the aristocrat Stephen Tennant who he met at the Slade, and the support of HenryTonks his Professor he was introduced into a circle of people who appreciated his talent and and had the resources to encourage his genius. His friendship with the author Edith Olivier who was a friend of Pamela Gray, Stephen`s mother, led to many more introductions with the rich and famous.
Rex was friends with such diverse people as the photographer Cecil Beaton, the Great War poet Siegfried Sassoon and the American film and stage actress Tallulah Bankhead who according his brother Laurence took his virginity. He was friends with Lord David Cecil, the Oxford Don, the musician and composer William Walton and the architect Edwin Lutyens. Hard to beat that as a list of contacts!
The best sources I have found researching this mans memorable and romantic life (One day its just got to be a great Movie) are
Rex Whistler His Life and his Drawings by Laurence Whistler
THe Laughter and the Urn The LIfe of Rex Whistler By Laurence Whistler
Edith Olivier From her Journals By Penelope Middleboe.
There also lots of other interesting snipets of information in other books such as
Ashcombe, The story of a Fifteen Lease by Cecil Beaton
Serious Pleasures The Life of Stephen Tennant by Philip Hoare
Tallulah My Autobiography by Tallulah Bankhead.
Initials in the Heart by Laurence Whistler
There are good summaries and views on his life in the catologues from his work that went with the most recent exhibitions. These are
Rex Whistler`s War 1939 to July 1944 Artist to Tank Commander By Jenny Spencer Smth from the 1994 exhibition
Rex Whistler The Triumph of Fancy by Stephen Calloway from the 2006 Brighton Exhibition.
The definitive catalogue of his work is The Work of Rex Whistler by Laurence Whistler and Ronald Fuller printed in 1960 but this is rare ,expensive and hard to get hold of. I also doubt that it is complete as the artist was incredibly prolific and gave a lot of minor stuff away. However, what he could draw or paint in an hour most people could not aspire to in a life time.
There is no doubt that the considerable efforts of his devoted brother Laurence who died in 2000 has ensured that his memory will keep burning and his unique talents will continue to be appreciated by future generations.

By: Ruth Whistler

Ruth Whistler — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 12:32:34 +0000

It is really interesting to read articles like this; Rex and Lawrence were my Great Uncles although I never met them…some family falling out on that side of things I think. I wish I knew more about them, and websites like this make really great reading. Thanks for putting this up.
I’ve been to Plas Newydd and seen the amazing mural, I have a framed print of it, but there’s nothing like the real thing, always something new to discover!

By: John

John — Sun, 04 Nov 2007 16:44:31 +0000

There was an exhibition of his work at the Brighton Museum last year:

http://www.24hourmuseum.org.uk/nwh_gfx_en/ART36519.html

It’s probable they have a catalogue for that as I have a book catalogue they produced for an earlier exhibition about the life and Surrealist art collection of Edward James.

And Abebooks.com lists a number of Whistler-related books. Abe is great for finding out-of-print works; I think I may order some of those myself.

By: Doris

Doris — Sun, 04 Nov 2007 05:55:12 +0000

It is the work that counts, not where a person finds love.

I was responding to the question. He was a handsome man and one can imagine all the interest he must have garnered for his beauty.

According to the book, Edith and Rex had a close friendship that lasted almost twenty years. She was not a little in love with him herself (it might have been an easy state in which to enter).

His work is delightful and I admire his drawing and technical ability.

I am sad that I never had a chance to see the exhibit. Do you know there is a catalog to be found anywhere?

If this exhibit didn’t do it, I think that he should be added to the lists of great illustrators of the world. His book jackets for Beverley Nichols’ books are delightful — and very much of their time, of course.

By: John

John — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 00:24:24 +0000

Thanks for that Doris, can’t help but be fascinated even though in the end it’s always the work that counts. He was a handsome fellow, that’s for sure.

By: Doris

Doris — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 17:40:54 +0000

According to Edith Olivier (cousin to Laurence), Rex swung both ways. He had some male lovers as a young man and then fell very hard for two women just before he left to serve in WWII.

The book is:

Edith Olivier from her Journals 1924 – 1948
by Penelope Middleboe
Weidenfeld & Nicholson, London, 1989

By: Martyn

Martyn — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 11:33:51 +0000

Spent a Saturday afternoon, recently, at Mottisfont Abbey , Romsey, Hampshire where Whistler (Rex) painted a magnificant drawing room in his inimatatable style after the Lady of the house had originaly decided not to go along with scheme.

He aparantly waited for her to go away on a short holiday and completed the room anyway.

During his work here war broke out and he left his comments on the matter for all to see!

I.m not arty person however I found Whistlers work breathtaking, albeit camper than a row of tents!!

Mart.

By: John

John — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 12:13:10 +0000

Thanks Vanessa. I’d love to see his some of his murals in their original setting. Plas Newydd isn’t so far from here so I should maybe organise an outing one day.

By: Vanessa

Vanessa — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 09:37:42 +0000

Many thanks for an unstuffy article.
I have just reurned from visit to Plas Newydd and was stunned by the technical mastery involved in this particular Whistler mural. It is a shame that more people cannot see it “in situ”. It needs to be seen within the room because that is the whole point. the space is restricted and the visual tricks and perspectives required to make the panel function are amazing.
To other prospective visitors to plas newydd – the NT does not open the house until midday.

By: John

John — Tue, 08 May 2007 02:22:41 +0000

Thanks John. That’s just the purpose I’ve had with many of these posts, drawing attention to neglected or marginalised artists.

By: John

John — Mon, 07 May 2007 07:20:18 +0000

Agreed, Rex Whistler is a sadly overlooked artist and illustrator. Like a lot of his contemporaries his work attempted to span the gulf between fine art and graphic art, unfortunate for him he lived out of time – fine art critics were not interested in traditional backstepping, and the First World War put an end to the production of sumptuous books of the Golden Age period.

Thanks very much for posting these images, there’s not much on the web at all!

John