An original talent, unrequited love, a tragic early death. For poignant romance, the story of Rex Whistler is hard to beat.

The backdrop to the story is Plas Newydd, standing hard by the Menai Strait on the Isle of Anglesey.

It is the house where Whistler created his masterpiece, a vast mural in the Dining Room for the 6th Marquess of Anglesey.

Talent to rival Hockney and Freud

Whistler was killed by a mortar bomb in Normandy at the age of 39. In his relatively brief career a series of witty, story-telling murals had established Whistler as a singular figurative artist. One, who must, had he lived, have gone on to rival Hockney and Freud.

Whistler's masterpiece

Whistler's largest piece, a fantastical panorama painted on a single piece of canvas, covers an entire wall at Plas Newydd.

The ‘mural’ is in fact a painting. Eighteen metres (58ft) wide, it was executed on one enormous piece of canvas Whistler had made on a special French loom.

A painting of love

Painted between 1936 and 1937, the mural is also full of love – for the family as a whole, but most of all for Lady Caroline, the beautiful eldest daughter.

The artist’s love for Lady Caroline – who married someone else – is revealed in the coded references he includes in his Arcadian and Romantic view of a coastal landscape.

These romantic allusions can be found on the painting’s left side. They include a depiction of Romeo and Juliet in which the young Whistler (Romeo) languishes beneath the balcony of Lady Caroline (Juliet).

Despite his personal feelings, the painting is filled with Whistler’s characteristic humour. One detail shows the family's pet dog, Cheekie, sitting with its back turned to a bowl of stew. The pampered dog only ate best steak, even on the cusp of rationing.

Important collection of paintings and drawings

In May, we announced our purchase of an important collection of paintings and drawings by Whistler for Plas Newydd.

The collection had been on loan to the Trust from the Whistler family for almost 30 years. It forms part of the only permanent exhibition to the artist.

The 50 items secured range from costume designs for 'The Tempest' to Rex Whistler’s paint box, palette and brushes.

Also acquired are the original illustrations for 'The Last of Uptake', proof editions of his illustrations for 'Gulliver’s Travels', posters, designs for book jackets, and an amusing training wall chart, devised by Whistler for the men of his tank regiment during the War.

Trompe l'oeil at Mottisfont Abbey

Another of our historic houses, Mottisfont Abbey in Hampshire, houses a grand scale Whistler masterpiece.

Delicious deception is on display in the Drawing Room, where a Whistler trompe l’oeil, or 'deceive the eye', takes on the appearance of Gothic plasterwork. Executed in 1938–9, this was to be his final large-scale work.

Deceived you will be as you struggle to decide whether ornate stonework and sumptuous fabrics are real or part of the meticulously painted trick.