About Lady Eden

ADT EDEN, whose portrait by the American artist, Whistler, exhibited last year in the Champs de Mars, has recently been the cause of an amusing controversy between her husband and ( the painter, is a woman of altogether ceptional beauty, and famous as such not only in England, but also on the co.itinent of Europe, and in America as well. She has been a favorite subject for great artists, perhaps the most successful and best-known portrait of her belng that exhibited a few years ago at the Royal Academy in London, by Herkomer, and which now hangs on the walls of her country seat, Windlestone Hall, opposite Sir Peter Lely's selebrated and historie portrait of Neil Gwynne, from whom the present Duke of St. Albans is descended in direct line. Prior to her marriage Lady Eden was known as the lovely Sybll Grey, and her great-grandfather was the flrst and famous Earl Grey. With regard to the portrait which has been the subject of dispute between the baronet and the artist, Sir William declares that Mr. Whistler undertook to make a sketch of Lady Eden for 100 guineas. On receiving notifleation that the portrait was ready Sir William sent his check for that amount and received an acknowledgment from Mr. Whister for the same. Sir William left on the following day for India. On his return he found that the sketch, which was about the size of a sheet of note paper, had been exhibited at the Salon, without his permission, where it had been greatly admired. On Sir William demanding its delivery the artist refused to comply therewith, claiming that the price paid was preposterous, and that the picture was worth a great deal more. Sir William then instituted legal proceedings to compel the artist to surrender the picture.whereupon Whistler, in a fit of petulance, painted out the vhole head. The French courts have now issued a decree commanding the artist to restore the picture, and to turn it over to the baronet, with $100 darnages for delay in delivering the picture, besides paying the entire costs of the proceedings. It will be curious to see how the restored head of Lady Eden will compare with that originally painted by Mr. Whistler.