"Yellow and pale as ripened corn
Which Autumn's kiss frees—grain from sheath
Such was her hair, while her eyes beneath,
Showed Spring's faint violets freshly born."
Robert Browning.
—also the child in "Captive Andromache." Of the sister-mother of this little family, beautiful as she was, Leighton declared he never could paint a successful likeness, notwithstanding his attempts in "Viola,"[75] "Bianca," "Serenely wandering in a trance of sober thought," and "Miss Dene." Her very beautiful throat, however, was reproduced worthily in many of his subject-pictures, and the true dramatic instinct she undoubtedly possessed enabled her to be of help in such pictures as "Antigone," "Return of Persephone," and the last picture, the passionate "Clytie." But however useful she proved as a model, Leighton never for a moment thought of his own interests before the serious welfare of the young girl's life. He realised that if she was to make a successful actress, it involved serious and concentrated study. One morning I received the following note:—
Dear Mrs. Barrington,—Miss Pullen will be very happy to sit to you on Monday, and will talk over the rest when you meet. You are very kind about it all, as is, indeed, your wont.
P.S.—You see my harassed old head does sometimes remember what I promise.
STUDIES FROM DOROTHY DENE FOR "CLYTIE." 1895
Leighton House Collection[ToList]
And later:—
2 Holland Park Road,
Kensington, W.
Dear Mrs. Barrington,—I want you to help me in a little conspiracy against (?) our young tragic friend. Mrs. Glyn frequently urges that she ought, at all events for a time, to give her whole mind and being to the study of her art. I need not say I share that opinion, and I have at last, after infinite trouble and persistence (my nose, you know)[76] induced her to leave off sitting for a month, in the hope, if you will all help, of making it a quarter. This would, I am confident, be of the greatest value to her, giving her time also to read a little and concentrate her thoughts. I am quite prepared to give up painting from her for three months; but she is in mortal dread lest her other friends should think her unkind and ungrateful for their sympathy. I have told her I believe no such thing, and that I feel sure that Schmaltz and you (who work most from her) will, as willingly as I, postpone your studies in order to aid her in so important a matter. She is going to call on you to-day; if you agree with me, be very firm—have a nose! Refuse to paint from her for three months.