[CHAPTER V.]
Frederick Walker, A.R.A., R.W.S., Charles Dickens, Professor Hubert von Herkomer, R.A., George J. Pinwell, R.W.S., A. B. Houghton, R.W.S., Ward & Lock, Frederick Barnard, Jean Ingelow, Robert Buchanan, J. M. Lawless.
Fred Walker often said that he wanted to come to us as a pupil, but that we would not have him. When he left the North London Collegiate School, where he was educated, he came to ask our advice as to the method of drawing on wood, and as to the chances of earning money as an illustrator. We advised him to begin by copying, in pen and ink, pictures from the Illustrated London News and other illustrated periodicals, specially recommending the works of John Gilbert and Birket Foster as the best models for style and manner.
He then went to J. W. Whymper, who at that time took pupils to learn the art of drawing on wood. There he studied and copied the works we had recommended, and so quickly acquired the manner of John Gilbert that when he made designs, so close was his imitation that his drawings might easily have been taken for Gilbert's own work. But his own individuality soon began to assert itself, and he quickly developed into the great master he was. During this period he occasionally came to us for advice on various subjects, and we gave him commissions on some boys' books for Routledge and other publishers, including "Hard Times" and "Reprinted Pieces," by Charles Dickens.
On sending Dickens a set of finished proofs of the latter, we received the following letter in reply:
"Friday, Fourth October, 1861.
"Gentlemen,—I beg to acknowledge the receipt of the India proofs you have had the kindness to send me, of the illustrations to 'Reprinted Pieces.' Both in conception and execution the illustrations are very satisfactory indeed.
"Faithfully yours,
"Charles Dickens."
Walker made many drawings for Good Words. One struck us as being so exceedingly beautiful that we asked him to make us a water colour drawing from it, which he did; and, apart from its being rather crude in colour, it is a charming work, called "A Dinner in the Fields"—a group of rustic children. This, we believe, was his first commission for a picture. His early paintings were not fine in colour. He did not evince much capacity in this direction until he went down to West Somerset, and worked side by side with his friend, J. W. North, whose influence, aided by the lovely colour of the district, brought about a marvellous improvement in both his tone and mode.