How is Miss Nan? I hope you have good accounts of her, and that all goes smoothly between you.
I send this to Bath to be forwarded, as I don"t know your present whereabouts.
DEAR JOHNNY,--I am just off to Paris, and write one line in hot haste to thank you for yours, and to say that I am delighted to hear you are conscious of progress. Come back as soon as you can _conveniently_, please, because Mr. Greville has _borrowed_ Lady Ellesmere"s portrait for you to copy, and wants to return it as soon as possible to the Duke of Devonshire.
Come and see me when you return, and believe me, with kind regards to Miss Nan,--Yours always,
F.L.
2 HOLLAND PARK ROAD, KENSINGTON, W.
I want very much, before they have quite disappeared, to get for myself and for a friend a couple of old-fashioned country b.u.mpkins" smocks; you know the sort of thing. Do you chance to know any one in any of the villages about Bath who could pick up a couple? I should like a brown one (_NOT a white Sunday one_) and a green one, and that they should _not_ be washed--well worn, untidy things. If you saw your way to getting me such garments, I should be very grateful, but don"t _trouble_ about it.
If you have leisure to think of anything but Miss Nan just at present, will you do me a favour? Will you get for me a peasant"s _wide-awake_, in shape like the one I painted in your portrait, only really _old_ and _soiled_ and _stained_; bought, in fact, if possible, off a b.u.mpkin"s head? Can you do this for me, and either send it or bring it if you are about to return shortly? I will pay you when we meet.
When is the wedding to be? or is it already over? I wish you all happiness and prosperity, and remain with kind remembrances to Miss (or Mrs.) Nan,--Yours truly,
FRED LEIGHTON.
I hope you can read this; my hands are so cold I can scarcely hold the pen.
Mr. Greville has very kindly desired me to give you another commission, this time a larger one. He wants you to copy from my large picture the group of women carrying flowers, the size of the original.[65] He offers you 25 for it. If you are disposed, as I have no doubt you will be, I would, if I were you, write him a line of thanks for the kind interest he shows in you. In great haste.
One line in a great hurry to say that I am delighted to hear that you have got in to the life school at the Royal Academy, and to thank you for the photo., which is capital.
I have not touched my Venus since you went away. I have been a good deal out of town myself, and have spent most of my time in finishing the two large decorative figures, which have now gone home. I am sorry you did not see them.
Come as soon as you can to begin Mr. Greville"s picture.
I leave town Sat.u.r.day next, and shall not see you till Sat.u.r.day the 6th July, so I write a line to say that you will set to work by yourself; the maid will light you a fire and give you the key of the studio.
I have written direct to Gatwell to order the canvas, or it would not have been ready in time. You are to paint the group full size. _Trace it_ to get it quite accurate. Put the head of the centre figure, the woman in _yellow_, about four inches or four and a half inches from the top of the canvas; that will give you all the rest. _Leave out_ the little _child sitting_. Go slap at the colour, vigorously but _NOT quick_.
The slower you work, if you work with energy, the sooner you get through, and the better the result.
I hope you are enjoying yourself.
[Ill.u.s.tration: PORTRAIT OF MRS. HANSON WALKER By permission of Mr. Hanson Walker]
Although I certainly think it is a pity to exhibit too soon, nevertheless I think that your particular situation just now does justify you in doing so, as long as you confine yourself to the Suffolk Street Gallery. I sincerely hope you may sell your pictures.
With kind regards to Mrs. Nan and love to my G.o.d-child, I am, in haste, yours always,
F.L.
I can"t quite make out the price as written in your note, so to avoid mistakes I send blank cheque, which pray fill in yourself.
Just off--good-bye.
_26th December._
I have got your note and enclose little cheque. This is as it should be. It is absurd that because I am an old friend, you should be a loser by me in time and pocket.
With a merry Xmas and New Year to you and Nan, I remain, in haste, yours sincerely,
FRED LEIGHTON.
2 HOLLAND PARK ROAD, _Monday_.
Many thanks for your letter. I have had absolutely no time to answer sooner, and now can only do so most briefly. I am extremely glad to hear of the success of your labours at Dorchester, and think you are very right to take for yourself and "Mrs. Nan" a refreshing little holiday on the hills.
I will begin the portrait next week,[66] when you return, at which time also I hope to show you some under-painted work which I think may interest you. I shall certainly call and see your screen. It will no doubt be a very useful bit of "property" to you.
Remember me very kindly to your wife.
MY DEAR JOHNNY,--I am much obliged to you for your letter, telling me of your doings in the country. I think you will do wisely in going to the Isle of Wight to paint landscape; the danger of copying the old masters too exclusively, as you have been forced to do lately, is that one is apt to fall into mannerism by trying to see Nature with the eyes of others; painting landscape direct from Nature is the best possible corrective against this tendency.
I shall be glad to see you and what you have done on your return, if you are here before the 20th or 22nd August; if not, we shall meet in October, when I return from the East.
I am working away at my picture, which will be under-painted before I leave England.
I wish you joy of your summer trip, and remain, yours very truly,
FRED LEIGHTON.
_6th September._