The particulars relative to the picture of "Sigismunda," Hogarth has himself inserted in his subscription-book, on the leaves of which he has pasted his correspondence with Lord Charlemont and Lord Grosvenor, and a proof print of MacArdell's copy from Correggio's picture. In a little blue memorandum book he resumes the subject, and concludes with a narrative of his quarrel with Wilkes and Churchill, which ends with the word Finis.
In these and some other loose papers, after having stated the professional injury which he had sustained from his opponents asserting, and the public believing, that he could not paint portraits, he continues:—
"Being thus driven out of the only profitable branch of my profession, I at first thought of attaching myself to history-painting; but in this there was no employment, for in forty years I had only two orders of any consequence for historical pictures. This was rather mortifying; and being, by the profits of my former productions and the office of serjeant painter, tolerably easy in my circumstances, and thoroughly sick of the idle quackery of criticism, I determined to quit the pencil for the graver. In this humble walk I had one advantage; the perpetual fluctuations in the manners of the times enabled me to introduce new characters, which being drawn from the passing day, had a chance of more originality and less insipidity than those which are repeated again, and again, and again from old stories. Added to this, the prints which I had previously engraved were now become a voluminous work, and circulated not only through England, but over Europe. These being secured to me by an Act which I had previously got passed, were a kind of an estate; and as they wore, I could repair and re-touch them, so that in some particulars they became better than when first engraved.[72]
"While I was making arrangements to confine myself entirely to my graver, an amiable nobleman (Lord Charlemont) requested that, before I bade a final adieu to the pencil, I would paint him one picture; the subject to be my own choice, and the reward—whatever I demanded. The story I pitched upon was a young and virtuous married lady, who, by playing at cards with an officer, loses her money, watch, and jewels; the moment when he offers them back in return for her honour, and she is wavering at his suit, was my point of time.[73]
"The picture was highly approved of, and the payment was noble; but the manner in which it was made, by a note enclosed in one of the following letters, was to me infinitely more gratifying than treble the sum:—
From Lord Charlemont to Mr. Hogarth.
"Mount Street, 19th Aug. 1759.
"Dear Sir,—I have been so excessively busied with ten thousand troublesome affairs, that I have not been able to wait upon you according to my promise, nor even to find time to sit for my picture. As I am obliged to set out for Ireland to-morrow, we must defer that till my return, which will be in the latter end of January, or in the beginning of February at furthest. I am still your debtor, more so indeed than I ever shall be able to pay; and did intend to have sent you before my departure what trifling recompense my abilities permit me to make you. But the truth is, having wrong calculated my expenses, I find myself unable for the present even to attempt paying you. However, if you be in any present need of money, let me know it, and as soon as I get to Ireland I will send you, not the price of your picture, for that is inestimable, but as much as I can afford to give for it.—Sir, I am, with the most sincere wishes for your health and happiness, your most obedient humble servant,
Charlemont.