THE JUDGE AND THE PICTURES

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2088, 24 May 1907, Page 4

THE JUDGE AND THE PICTURES

MODESTY IN NEEDLEWORK

Confronted with that most difficult of artistic problems, how much raiment a lady in a picture not lacking in modesty should wear, DeputyJ udge Bevan, of Loudon, declared ho was no more competent to judge that than, if'ho went out to dinner, ho would be to decido if a lady opposite to him was sufficiently or not. The issue arose at the Westminster County Court, in an action brought by Milo. Boucher, a French artist, against M. Benoist, the restauranteur, as managing director of tho Grafton Galleries.

Tho claim was for £100; \dani|agj.'s, caused by the failure of the defendant to abide by a contract) allowing the artist tho uso of a certain roof at the Grafton Galleries to exhibit a collection of picturos. Mile. Boucher, said her counsel, Mr. Grantham, had lived all her life in Paris. She had exhibited in the Salon for the last four years. Last she came over to England with j\tpio intention of finding .a gallery to exhibit her picutres, and was recommended to the Grafton Galleries. She saw Mr. Benoist, and was granted the use of the rooms, for 500 fr (£2O), and a contract was drawn up and signed. Then, on January 7, when the pictures arrived, Mile. Boucher was told that the Ladies’ Needlework Society, who had taken the galleries for an exhibition of embroideries and needlework, objected to the pictures, on the ground that they were representations of the nude, and were indecent. In spite of that, however*, she was offered another room, which was unsuitable for her purpose. Mile. Boucher gave evidence, through an interpreter, and said Mr. Benoist told her that the Ladies’ TTeedlework Society did not want to exhibit with pictures of naked or half-naked figures. A catalogue of pictures was produced, and those objected to were “Jeanne Remme au Repos,” “Solitude,” “Iteveuse,” and “Portrait do Jeune Fille.” Plaintiff valued them at 6000 fr to 4000 fr each. Holding up a photograph of one of the picuti'es objected to, Deputy - Judge Bevan remarked, “If I am to judge whether this picture is decent or not, I am reminded of the s£ory in ‘Poter Simple,’ when the hero takes into supper a colored lady, who remonstrated with him when he asked her to havo a little breast of chicken, saying that he should say ‘bosom.’ ” (Laughter.) An illustrated Salon book was produced, and, looking through it, his Honor said that he thought the f ture “Solitude” was about the most modest in the volume. It was quite spoilt by tho quantity of drapery. Mr. Hebei* Hart, for the defendants, submitted that it was not a picture calculated to promote the inerests of people holding the exhibition. The defence raised was that the Grafton Galleries could not carry out. tlio contract owing to the opposition of the Needlework Sofiihityj. who had tho prior claim on the. rooms, and that Milo. Boucher understood that the contract was to be contingent on their permission being obtained.

Tho Judge (holding up a photograph): Is there any picture more pretty than this? Tlie Secretary of tho Galleries: Well, that was tho chief one objected to.

Tho Judge: And this one of the lady in repose —she looks far from it? His Hohoivthon said that he wivs not going to make himself a judge as to how much raiment a lady in a picture should wear.

His Honor finally gave judgment for the plaintiff for £2O 7s ld.>