VD Brenner - 1905 James McNeil Whistler plaque in bronze. The obverse has Whistler standing with hands on hips (and an interesting loose strand of hair flipped up), an the wording "JAMES McNEIL WHISTLER/ PAINTER ETCHER AUTHOR" with the Whistler butterfly logo. The Reverse has a posing peacock with the French greeting "Messieurs Les Ennemis" (Gentleman, the enemies).Whistler was apparently hyper-sensitive to criticism and once sued a critic. Peacocks were often a subject of Whistler as seen in his Peacock Room at the Smithsonian. Whistler had been contracted to lightly change the room so that it complimented Whistler’s painting “The Princess from the Land of Porcelain.” Whistler completely re-did the room in gold and blue peacocks which stunned the owner, Frederick Leyland, who then did not pay him. This eventually caused Whistler to go bankrupt. He then painted a portrait of Leyland as a Peacock/Human playing a piano surrounded by money bags. Apparently, it was not good to be on Whistler's bad side. Brenner's signature is on both sides at the top and it was struck in Paris. Smedley #62, Obtained Feb 1978

89.4 x 65.1, 177.3 grams. Marked Bronze on the edge. Gem uncirculated with glowing bronze sheen