The little girl looks as if she had just started away with her basket of berries when we stopped her to take her picture. She is looking straight at us, with her head bent forward a little as she smiles shyly at us with her big eyes. Her basket, cap, and dress seem strange to us, for little girls do not dress that way now. She looks quaint and old-fashioned as she stands there, with her hands clasped so primly. But one glance at her face tells us that she is just a merry, happy little child, ready to dart away at any moment for a romp in the woods we can see in the distance.
Sir Joshua Reynolds always said that this was the best child's picture he ever painted.
Offy was very happy in his home, and lived there until she grew up and married. Then when she had a little girl of her own she let her visit Sir Joshua and have her picture painted, too. It is Offy's little daughter we see in the picture called "Simplicity." Her name was Offy, too.
With so many lovely pictures of children it is no wonder Sir Joshua Reynolds was called the "Prince of Child Painters."
Questions to help the pupil understand the picture. Who painted this picture? What other picture of his have we studied? Who can tell something about Sir Joshua Reynolds? What little girl came to live with him? How did she happen to come? Where had she lived? Who brought her, and how? Tell about Sir Joshua Reynolds's house and yard. Where was the strawberry patch? What did Offy plan to do to surprise her uncle? What happened? What did one of the men call Offy? What did her uncle do the next morning? How was Offy surprised? Of what use was the mirror? Tell how Offy gathered strawberries in the country. Where did the largest berries grow? Why did Sir Joshua Reynolds paint the rock in the picture? What did he say about this picture? What became of Offy? Why do you think Sir Joshua Reynolds liked to paint this little girl?
To the Teacher: Illustrate the story of a little girl picking strawberries. Use charcoal and manila paper. Ask some child to pose for the picture, and encourage the children to draw a background that tells the story.
The story of the artist. The great room or studio in which Sir Joshua Reynolds painted was a wonderful place for a child to visit. In it one could find all kinds of toys, as well as birds and other pets. Most of the children who came to see Sir Joshua were of very wealthy families, but he did not care for that. He always asked their mothers to please let them wear their oldest clothes so they could have a good time. In fact, he did not like fine clothes, and usually the children in his pictures are dressed so simply you cannot tell whether they are rich or poor. He played games with them and told them stories. They were always sure of a good time and so no wonder they liked to visit him.
Many artists have been poor, and have had to work very hard just to earn enough to eat, but Sir Joshua was not one of these. He was fortunate in being able to sell all his pictures as fast as he could paint them and so always had plenty of money.
Many strange stories are told of Joshua's father because he was such an absent-minded man. One day he rode to town on horseback. He was wearing high-topped boots which were so loose that one fell off while he was riding along. He did not notice it at all, for he was thinking of something else. But when he reached town and got off his horse he was very much surprised and embarrassed to find himself wearing only one boot.
When Sir Joshua went to London to learn how to paint he wrote to his father, "While I am doing this, I am the happiest creature alive." After he had been away several years he met a young sailor, Admiral Keppel, who invited him to go on a long sail on the Mediterranean Sea. This was a great opportunity for Sir Joshua, and he was glad to go. He spent some time in Italy, and when he came home he painted a portrait of his friend, Admiral Keppel, which every one admired. It was this picture that first made him famous.