Amongst strongly-marked and characteristic faces I well remember Lord Colonsay (Scotch law), who had a most beautiful mop of shining silver hair; also the Rev. Francis E. C. Byng, afterwards Lord Stafford, who was Chaplain to the House of Commons from '74 to '89. He was a little man with great natural dignity, glossy curly black hair and a very prominent chin. He was a perfect study for the caricaturist, and I believe anything but a stereotyped parson. The late Chaplain, the Rev. Basil Wilberforce, Archdeacon of Westminster Abbey, sat to me a few years ago for Vanity Fair; I had observed him in the House of Commons, and in his beautiful and most interesting home in Deans' Yard. His unrivalled stateliness of bearing was combined with unusual lightness of movement, and he was a most impressive figure, especially on occasions of state ceremonial. I remember watching him with great pleasure in his place in the Speaker's procession as it passed to the House for prayers. There was no man in London who had such a following in the pulpit. As a subject he was most interesting and very patient. His gown in the reproduction is the best sample of three-colour work I had had done, and he was so pleased with my drawing that he bought it.
Of course I did not confine my secret observations to the House, but made for my man anywhere that I could watch him. I caught Sir Henry Rawlinson at a Royal Academy Soirée and finished the study at another social evening at the Royal Geographical Society. In those days the Royal Academy social gatherings made good hunting-ground, and it was vastly entertaining to watch the orthodox social celebrities swarm round the "lions." Occasionally it was still possible to meet those who consider it a solemn misdemeanour if not a hideous crime to portray one's friends and acquaintance in the spirit, or with the pen of humour. I remember on one occasion just after I had published a caricature which probably caused a little surprise to the unconscious subject, I met a man who must have strongly objected to my observing eye so over-full was he of righteous indignation.
"Well," said he, on the note that conveys that magnificent sense of superiority which seems the mark of a limited intelligence, "have you been caricaturing any more of your friends?"
As a matter of fact the work of the leading modern caricaturists is peculiarly free from vulgar offence. The art of caricature as the art of any other form of portraiture is to portray the true leading features through the mirthful marking of the obvious. Occasionally the caricaturist draws on the extraordinary, for instance, Mr. Harry Furniss, has immortalized the late Sir William Harcourt's row of chins, but it is as guiltless of offence as Mr. Gladstone's collar or Mr. Chamberlain's orchid.
"METHODICAL & METHODIST" CAMPBELL BANNERMAN AND FOWLER.
"BABBLE & BLUSTER" GLADSTONE AND HARCOURT. 1892.
"FAITHFUL & FADDIST" LORDS SPENCER AND RIPON.