PORTRAIT FROM A PHOTOGRAPH OF LORD LEIGHTON TAKEN IN 1863[ToList]
April 1863, Saturday.
Dearest Mamma,—You have seen in the papers that the Review at Brighton went off capitally. I enjoyed my day very much, and though I was a little tired and very sleepy for two days after, was altogether the better for it. It was a stiff day's work too—nine or ten hours without sitting down, and with the additional responsibility of having the command of the Artists' Company. I was sure you would be pleased at the reception of my "Fruit Girl"[29] by my brother artists—you must understand, though, that this applies chiefly to the younger men (and not to all of them), for there are several of the older painters who strongly object to my style of painting and are bent on suppressing it.
Will you thank Papa for his hint about the Athenæum—I am pretty sure he is mistaken about it, but I shall take measures about it—indeed I have.
I spoke to Charles Greville (Henry's brother) and told him I thought I should be coming on before very long; he very kindly overhauled the lists and said he thought I might be up by the end of the summer, and, what was still more kind, seeing me unseconded, he put his name down as seconder.
Forest Bank, Lyndhurst,
Thursday, August 6, 1863.
If I was not more explicit about being with Aïdé, it was because I made sure you knew it. You will be pleased to hear that when after many péripéties I did begin my fresco I got on capitally; I have now finished the task for this year, having painted three life-size figures, with a good bit of background, in four days. I worked hard for it, and am rather tired—head and eyes; otherwise flourishing.
I am delighted with my new fresco material (Parry's)—the effect is excellent—nearly as fine as real fresco. Everybody seems much pleased with what I have done, particularly the parson. I like it myself; I enjoy working at it immensely; it is my real element. I find it (for mere manipulation bien entendu) absurdly easy.
The following letter from Mr. Gambier Parry explains the "fresco material" Leighton used.
Highnam, Gloucester,
August 3, 1863.