THE CERTOSA, PAVIA Size of the original print, 7 by 8 inches. From the etchings by D. Shaw MacLaughlan. These two etchings of the Italian series are noteworthy for their excellence of drawing and clearly defined values, recalling in a sense the mastery of Meryon. the joint authors of an admirable biography of Whistler. They were loyal and close friends of Whistler's to the end of his stormy life. The old Methodists used to say that "Heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people." Similarly fine painter-etching may be called a prepared art for a prepared public. Twenty years ago people used to accept anything that could be called "an etching"; but, happily, all this is now changed, and to-day the incompetent or the half-competent etcher has no chance when competing with those who may justly rank as masters in this most interesting, but difficult, art. ORIGINAL ETCHINGS BY QUEEN VICTORIA NOW that so many world OW that so many millions of people through out the civilized world are bearing affectionate testimony to the memory of Queen Victoria, the following little story may be of interest as showing an unexpected broad-mindedness on the part of a monarch who had been accustomed to flattery all her life. A few years ago I got possession of a collection of thirty-four etchings done by the Queen's own hand. I made an exhibition of this collection in my gallery, but knowing that, while interesting, they were in no respect great works of art, I said as much in the short introduction which I wrote for the catalogue of the exhibition. When in London, a month later, I met the official keeper of the Queen's pictures, Sir Charles Robinson. After greeting me, he asked if the report could possibly be true that I had made a public exhibition in New York of her Majesty's etchings. He explained that very few proofs had ever been given away, and that these had only been given to distinguished persons, who would never dream of parting with them. "Where had I found them? From whom had I bought them?" My answer was: "Sir Charles, I will |