Published by Mr. Alexander Strahan.
We had for a long time cherished the idea of doing an important series of illustrations to "The Parables of Our Lord." This occupied much anxious thought and careful consideration, for we felt it would be useless attempting the subject unless the drawings were made by an artist of acknowledged high-class ability. We found our chief difficulty in fixing upon one capable of treating the subject with sufficient dignity, and at the same time likely to avoid the old conventional style in which at that time Biblical art was treated. As many of Sir John Millais' charming drawings had been passing through our hands—among others we would mention some exceptionally beautiful work illustrating selected passages from poems by Byron and Coleridge, as well as his exquisite drawing of "The Finding of Moses"—it seemed to us that he would be a safe man to consult on the subject, and likely to give us something more original in treatment than any other artist who was doing this class of work.
Millais entered warmly into the subject and very readily undertook the commission, as the accompanying letter will show:
"Bowerswell, Perth,
"13 August, '57.
"Dear Sirs,—I shall be very glad to accept your offer, but you must give me time. One great inducement for me to undertake these illustrations is the fact that the book will be entirely illustrated by me alone. The subject is quite to my liking; you could not have chosen anything more congenial to my desire. I would set about them immediately if you will send me some blocks. Will you send me a list of the Parables, or leave it to me? I would prefer the former. There is so much labour in these drawings that I trust you will give me my own time, otherwise I could not undertake the commission. I should make it a labour of love like yourselves.
"Yours very truly,
"John Everett Millais."
