BIOGRAPHY.
“August 29. Died in London, in her 29th year, Emma, the wife of M. Soyer, of the Reform Club House, Pall Mall.
“Madame Soyer (formerly Emma Jones) was born in London in 1813. Her father died when she was only four years of age, and left her to the care of a fond mother, who sacrificed the prospect of an increasing fortune to devote her time entirely to the education of her child, who showed great inclination for study. The usual instructions were received with success, the French and Italian languages soon acquired, and music became a favorite amusement; in fact, it appeared that whatever was undertaken was of easy accomplishment.
“About the year 1817, M. Simonau, a Flemish artist, pupil of the celebrated Baron Gros, visited London, and brought with him some of his works, which were purchased by an antiquary, who advised him to open an academy for drawing and painting, which he did, and in a short time gained great celebrity. Mrs. Jones having heard of the fame of M. Simonau, went to him with her little girl, and wished him to give her lessons; the extreme youth of the child at first made him hesitate, but at length he consented, and when Emma had been with him about six months, she showed such decided talent, that her mother proposed to remunerate him for the loss of all his other pupils if he would give his whole time to her daughter’s instruction; to this, after some consideration, he agreed, and every succeeding year her improvement was so great, that before the age of twelve she had drawn more than a hundred portraits from life with surprising fidelity.
“During the same time she advanced wonderfully in music, under the eminent pianist, Ancot, who, at that time, was patronized by her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, and was a great friend of Rossini and Weber—the last of these heard little Emma play a passage of his ‘Der Freischutz’ with so much execution, that he declared, in the most flattering terms, that she would become a brilliant star in the musical world. M. Ancot strongly recommended that she should adopt music as a profession; and, as her mother feared that drawing would injure her health, his opinion was for some time adopted. Through the following circumstances, however, painting was finally chosen instead of music. Mrs. Jones (who, in 1820, had become the wife of M. Simonau) having gone to the continent for her health, young Emma one day looking out of a window at Dunkirk, saw some children blowing bubbles, and immediately, with a piece of charcoal, made a sketch of the group upon the wall: the execution of this rude drawing evinced so much power, that it was at once finally decided by her mother and M. Simonau to adhere to the original intention of making painting her principal study, and that music should only be cultivated as an accomplishment. A few years after a picture from this sketch was sold at Liverpool for sixty pounds.
“At an early age many original paintings and portraits bore ample testimony to the perseverance of the mother, the care of the master, and the genius of the young artist.
“In 1836, Miss Emma Jones was married to M. Soyer at St. George’s church, Hanover square.
“In 1839, the poor mother died, happy that her daughter had attained eminence by her talents, and enjoyed prosperity with the husband of her choice. But, alas! the happiness of nearly six years was destroyed in a few hours; Madame Soyer was taken in premature labour, and died on the same day, regretted by all who knew her. She was of a most amiable and cheerful disposition, a kind friend, excellent and affectionate wife, too modest to set much value upon her works, leaving the palette to attend to her household duties.
“The acuteness of her husband’s feelings was painfully increased by his unfortunate absence, being at Brussels at the time with the suite of the Duke of Saxe Cobourg-Gotha, who had seen M. Soyer in his culinary department at the Reform Club, and having greatly admired several of Madame Soyer’s pictures, did her the honour to subscribe for a print from her picture of the ‘Young Israelites,’ which has since been dedicated, by permission, to his Serene Highness.”[31]
“The death of this lady has been a source of great regret to all the lovers and encouragers of art. Cut off at a moment when her reputation was about to make her fortune, and when, in spite of all obstacles, her merits were become known to her countrymen, it is a sad reflection that she can no longer enjoy the encomiums she so justly deserves, nor share in those rewards which were about to be conferred on her. Besides an immense variety of drawings, sketches, and studies, she had painted upwards of 400 pictures, some of them of very high merit, and some of them which, when exhibited in the Louvre, obtained the highest meed of praise. No female artist has exceeded this lady as a colorist, and very few artists of the rougher sex have produced portraits so full of character, spirit, and vigour, and that boldness and breadth of light and shadow which constitutes one of the highest triumphs of art. She was exceedingly clever in recognizing the character of those who sat to her, so that her portraits convey the mind as well as the features of the sitters, their thoughts and sentiments. Her group, already mentioned, depicting Two Boys selling Lemons, has been recently engraved by Gerard of Paris, in mezzotint, and is a fine illustration of the talents of the deceased. It partakes of the style of Murillo; but, though in his manner, it has not the subserviency of imitation, nor the stiffness of copy. There are a few of Madame Soyer’s paintings at the Reform Club-house, which will well repay a visit from those who have a taste for genuine merit and real nature.”—Times.
The three following letters are selected from a numerous correspondence, as exhibiting at once sympathy for her loss, and admiration for her talents.
“Gotha, le 4 Janvier, 1843.
A MONSIEUR ALEXIS SOYER.
“Monsieur,
“Je vous suis très obligé du dessin original fait du feue Madame votre épouse, ainsi que des gravures d’après le tableau des jeunes Israelites, que vous avez bien voulu m’envoyer.
“C’est avec beaucoup d’intérêt que j’adjoindrai à ma collection de dessins les produits d’un talent aussi distingué que celui de feue Madame Soyer.
“En vous disant mes remercîmens et en souhaitant que le temps adoucit votre grande et juste douleur sur sa perte prématurée, je vous assure encore de toute mon estime.
“Ernest Duc de Saxe-Gotha.”
“Cambridge House, le 21 Mai, 1846.
“Monsieur,
“Je suis chargé de la part de S. A. R. Monseigneur le Duc de Cambridge de vous remercier pour l’envoi des trois tableaux, peints par feue Madame votre épouse, qui ont été dûment admirés et appréciés, non seulement par S. A. R., le Duc, mais aussi par Madame la Duchesse, ainsi que par ceux à qu’il a été donné de les voir.
“J’ai l’honneur d’être, Monsieur,
“Votre très humble et obéissant serviteur,
“Le Baron de Knesebeck.”
“Stafford House, Vendredi.
“La Duchesse de Sutherland présente ses compliments à M. Soyer, et accepte avec plaisir la dédicace de la gravure[32] d’après le tableau peint par feue Madame Soyer.
“Elle a appris avec bien du regret la perte immense qu’il a faite.”