Anecdotes of Painters, Engravers, Sculptors and Architects, and Curiosities of Art (Vol. 1 of 3)

Anecdotes of Painters, Engravers, Sculptors and Architects, and Curiosities of Art (Vol. 1 of 3)

During all this time, for some unknown reason, Stuart never sought the acquaintance of West, but the moment that excellent man heard of the young painter and his circumstances, he immediately sent a messenger to him with money to relieve his necessities, and invited him to call at his studio. Such{127} was Stuarts first introduction, says Dunlap, to the man from whose instruction he derived the most important advantages from that time forward; whose character he always justly appreciated, but whose example he could not, or would not follow. Stuart himself says, On application to West to receive me as a pupil, I was welcomed with true benevolence, encouraged and taken into the family, and nothing could exceed the attentions of the great artist to methey were paternal. He was twenty-four years old when he entered the studio of West. Before he left the roof of his benefactor and teacher, he painted a full-length portrait of him, which elicited general admiration. It was exhibited at the Royal Academy, and the young painter paid frequent visits to the exhibition rooms. It happened that one day, as he stood near the picture, surrounded by artists and students (for he had fine wit, and was an inimitable story-teller), West came in and joined the group. He praised the picture, and addressing himself to his pupil, said, you have done well, Stuart, very well; now all you have to do is to go home and do better. Stuart always expressed the obligations he was under to that distinguished artist. When West saw that he was fitted for the field, prepared for and capable of contending with the best portrait painters, he advised him to commence his professional career, and pointed out to him the way to fame and fortune. But Stuart did not follow this wise counsel, preferring to indulge his{128} own wayward fancy. He had a noble, generous, and disinterested heart, but he was eccentric, improvident, and extravagant, and consequently he was always in necessitous circumstances. I used often to provoke my good old master, said Stuart to Dunlap, though, heaven knows, without intending it. You remember the color closet at the bottom of his painting-room. One day, Trumbull and I came into his room, and little suspecting that he was within hearing, I began to lecture on his pictures, and particularly upon one then on his easel. I was a giddy, foolish fellow then. He had begun a portrait of a child, and he had a way of making curly hair by a flourish of his brush, thus, like a figure of three. Here, Trumbull, said I, do you want to learn how to paint hair? There it is, my boy! Our master figures out a head of hair like a sum in arithmetic. Let us seewe may tell how many guineas he is to have for this head by simple addition,three and three make six, and three are nine, and three are twelve How much the sum would have amounted to, I cant tell, for just then in stalked the master, with palette-knife and palette, and put to flight my calculations. Very well, Mr. Stuarthe always mistered me when he was angry, as a mans wife calls him my dear, when she wishes him to the dl,Very well, Mr. Stuart! very well indeed! You may{129} believe that I looked foolish enough, and he gave me a pretty sharp lecture, without my making any reply. But when the head was finished, there were no figures of three in the hair. Mr. West, says Stuart, treated me very cavalierly on one occasion: but I had my revenge. My old master, who was always called upon to paint a portrait of his majesty for every governor-general sent out to India, received an order for one for Lord . He was busily employed upon one of his ten-acre pictures, in company with prophets and apostles, and thought he could turn over the king to me. He could never paint a portrait. ......Buy Now (To Read More)

Product details

Ebook Number: 66010
Author: Spooner, Shearjashub
Release Date: Aug 8, 2021
Format: eBook
Language: English