This was irresistible, and so the artist consented to do his best.
When the fancy picture of the father was finished, the faithful son came to see it, and liked it very much.
"It is very good," he said. "But," he added, after a little reflection, "how he has changed!"
| [By Alyn Williams. | [By A. R. Merrylees. | [By Mabel E. Hankin. |
| A "GAINSBOROUGH" PORTRAIT. | A BONNIE BAIRN. | A PORTRAIT. |
Miss Merrylees, whose miniatures, seven in number, make a fine show at the Academy, once had to paint a miniature of a clergyman; but the only way of getting his right expression was to make him recite long poems and dramatic scenes from Shakespeare. While he was doing this, Miss Merrylees "went on painting madly."
Another time she was painting a little boy, who was sitting very still and silent.
Suddenly he convulsed his painter by propounding this tremendous query: "Do you like your groom to sit so, or so?" And he indicated two varieties of the akimbo manner.
A charming portrait of a pretty child indicates Miss Merrylees' style of work. This was exhibited both in the Royal Academy and the Paris Salon.
Holbein, who was a great miniaturist, had a very summary method of dealing with people who troubled him while he was painting miniatures. A nobleman once came into his studio while he was painting a lady, and was promptly thrown downstairs, like Daddy Longlegs of immortal fame.