Reginald John ‘Rex’ Whistler or Rex Whistler or John Whistler (1905-1944) was a brilliant British artist, designer and illustrator. His talents ranged from painting jaw-dropping portraits and murals to set design and book illustrations, carrying the essence of the ‘hipster’ and ‘baroque revival’ style. In 1936, Sir Charles Paget (the 6th Marquis of Anglesey) commissioned John Whistler to create a mural for the dining room of his home in Plas Newydd. This magnificent 57-foot mural was called “Claudian Fantasy.” “Claudian Fantasy” was one of Whistler’s most outstanding works and today is considered a true masterpiece of art.
John Rex Whistler presents a stunning view of the coastline in “Claudian Fantasy”, which was inspired by the wonderful sea and mountains of the Snowdonian region of North Wales. The dark aquamarine sea stretches from one side of the mural to the other. Various brown ships and boats of all sizes are floating in its waters. The sky is painted a clear serene blue with fluffy white clouds. The close-up of Rex’s mural shows a stone-walled coastline with a small harbor right in the center. Whistler portrayed a whimsical story of Neptune, the god of the sea, who rises from the waters to the harbor and enters the room directly.
He painted wet footprints on the stony ground of the harbor. There are a number of items scattered on the shore wall, such as a fruit basket, a ceramic vase, a bottle, a net, and an anchor, among others. We can also see a crown in the port, supposedly belonging to Neptune. The left shore shows several prominent tall Italian buildings in beige. Similar structures can be seen on the island in the center furthest from the mural and the shoreline on the far right. Also, in the background of the left coast, there are brown hills and beautiful snow-capped mountains. The blazing rays of the sun form a luminous silhouette above the clouds and snow-capped mountains. The fantastic coloring and intricate details of the painting are absolutely mesmerizing.
Rex Whistler painted an extension of “Caludian Fantasy” on the two adjoining walls of the mural, to give it a unique three-dimensional effect. On the right wall, we can see a young man sweeping leaves (which many believe is actually a Whistler self-portrait and on the left showed a beautiful balcony with the family’s dogs lying near the steps).
John’s “Claudian Fantasy” in Plas Newydd is an elusive and impressive work. The fact that you produced it simply using your imagination is proof of your artistic ability. The UK National Trust has acquired the Plas Newydd mansion. They house a large collection of works by John Rex Whistler.