This is James Whistler's "The Gold Scab: Eruption in Filthy Lucre" (The Creditor), 1879. Whistler had done extensive work for Fredrick Leyland. Leyland disputed changes made in the final product and related overcharges. Long story short(er) Whistler ends up bankrupt; Leyland ends up with Whistler's house. And the art world ends up with The Creditor, this green (money) hued art viciously caricatures Leyland as a hideous-looking peacock sitting atop Whistler's house surrounded by bags of money. (As seen at the Legion of Honor museum, SF. Caption below)
Comments