Complete Works of Wilkie Collins (2122 page)

I venture to mention the above particulars, at the risk of their being considered trivial, as they may convey some idea of Mr. Collins’s quickness and facility in preparing those studies of cottage children, which, as transferred to his pictures, have afforded such general pleasure, and won him such general applause.

On leaving Llanberris, the painter proceeded to Bedgellert. Here the scenery changed. Less wild, varied, and original, the landscape now assumed a more quiet, pretty, monotonous character. Passing through it, therefore, with less delay than usual, my father gained his next place of temporary sojourn, Barmouth, without many additions of importance to his sketch-book. At this place he was once more by the seaside, with coast scenery of the most novel and picturesque order to employ his attention. Cottages perched grotesquely one above another on shelves of cliff, — a smooth winding beach, — the lofty Cader Idris close at hand, — and a noble background of clear blue hills, presented to him a familiar class of subject, displayed under a novel and attractive form. In the natural characteristics of this place, and in its motley population, composed partly of fishing and partly of market-people, he found the material for one of his next year’s pictures, called, “Welsh Peasants, crossing the Sands to Market.” In spite of the obstacles of frequent wet weather, he succeeded in making as many studies at Barmouth before he quitted it as he desired; for if a scene pleased his eye, he sketched its distinguishing features in the rain, under an umbrella, as coolly and resolutely as if he were drawing them from the window of a house, or under a tranquil sky. From Barmouth he went to Dolgelly; the journey to which he always spoke of as presenting the finest scenery in Wales. Dolgelly itself, with its lovely “Torrent’s Walk,” its dashing waterfalls and rich-spreading woodlands, would have delayed him as long as Barmouth, but that it was now necessary that he should turn his steps homeward. He proceeded, therefore, slowly, by Montgomery, Ludlow, Hereford, and Ross, to Bath; where he made some sojourn, — ultimately returning, by way of Salisbury to London; fortified both in mind and body, by four months’ quiet study and enjoyment of many of the finest beauties of Nature, which the scenery of this island can present.

On the painter’s arrival at home, Wilkie, who was as usual the first to examine his new sketches, did not forget to revive the old subject of the advantages to be gained by his friend, if he would determine on a tour to Italy; declaring that the satisfaction procured for him by the home journey he had just taken would be doubled and trebled by the more varied and exciting attractions of foreign travel and foreign subjects. This time he found my father less resolute in absolutely resigning all hope of prosecuting the continental plan. One reason that had hitherto operated powerfully to retain him in England, the care of his infirm mother, had, by the bereavement of the year before, been removed for ever; his energy and ambition, his own eagerness to behold Italian scenery and Italian Art, began irrepressibly to second Sir David’s advice; and though as yet he determined on nothing absolutely, he already contemplated as probable that thorough change in his choice of subject and usual regular mode of life which, in the year 1836, did eventually take place.

In the mean time, through the autumn and winter, he now exclusively occupied himself in preparing for the Exhibition of 1835; to which he sent four pictures: “Children launching a Boat,” (purchased by Sir George Philips, Bart.;) “Welsh Peasants crossing the Sands to Market,” (purchased by Mr. Colls;) “Cromer, on the Coast of Norfolk,” (purchased by Mr. Jacob Bell;) and “The Mariner’s Widow,” (purchased by Mr. Vernon.)

“Children launching a Boat” was a small inland scene, deeply and grandly toned, and of great freedom and simplicity in the arrangement. The “Welsh Peasants” were represented crossing the Barmouth sands on horseback; the sea and the hills beyond forming the background. The principal figures were women, dressed in that curious national costume of which a man’s hat forms the most eccentric portion. The great beauty and originality of the lines of the composition in this picture, as indicated by the disposition of attitude in the mounted and walking peasants, struck every one who saw it, — and none more favourably than the painter’s gifted friend, the late Sir Augustus Callcott, R.A.; who, viewing the work with the eye of a kindred genius, declared that the arrangement of the figures was one of the most successful efforts of its class that the painter had produced. The picture has been disposed of by its first possessor to Mr. J. Gillott, and has been engraved in the “Art-Journal.” The sea-piece, entitled “Cromer,” was one of the works exhibited at the British Institution, after Mr. Collins’s death. A better example of his simpler and less ambitious productions of this order could hardly have been selected than this picture, in which the delicate tone of the whole scene is admirably heightened and invigorated by the red cloak of a female figure on the beach, — one of those judicious effects of colour which the painter so well knew how to employ. In point of subject, “The Mariner’s Widow” was perhaps Mr. Collins’s best picture this year. At the door of a fisherman’s cottage, pointing to the place on the ocean where her husband was lost, sits the “Widow.” Her only auditors are the occupants of the house, — a man and his wife; the former holding his child between his knees. The mournful contrast between the black weeds of the widow and the tender brightness of the sky and sea around her, — between her resigned, sorrowful features, and the kindly and simple outward appearance of the fisherman and his wife, gives a tranquil pathos to this natural incident which invests it at once with the elements of real tragedy and lasting interest. This fine picture requires, however, but little notice in these pages, as the public will be able to judge of its merits for themselves; the work being in Mr. Vernon’s collection, and consequently included in his noble bequest to the National Gallery of England.

In the subjoined letter to Lord Chief-Commissioner Adam, the drawing, the completion of which Mr. Collins announces, was the scene at Blair Adam, which has been before mentioned as jointly undertaken, as a gift to the owner of that estate, by Sir David Wilkie and himself, (the former supplying the figures, and the latter the landscape,) when they were enjoying his hospitality in 1822. The notice of their visit will be found at the date of its occurrence; and the explanation of Mr. Collins’s delay in the performance of
his
part of their engagement is contained in the following letter:

“To THE LORD CHIEF-COMMISSIONER ADAM.

“Bayswater, June 1835.

“My Lord, — I am conscious that none of the usual apologies for delay will answer my purpose, for the length of time your drawing has been in hand. Some few things I might offer, by way of extenuation; I will, however, acknowledge at once, that I am perfectly ashamed of my procrastination. All, under the circumstances, that I could do, has now at length been done; and I have used the little power I possess, in the department of
organ-blower
to one of my friend Wilkie’s most tasteful little
airs.
And proud I confess I feel, even in this subordinate situation, in being coupled with so gifted an artist, in perhaps the only joint work he was ever engaged upon.

“Most sincerely trusting your lordship may be blesssed with all happiness, and with my best compliments to Miss Adam,

“I remain, my lord,

“Your obedient servant,

“WILLIAM COLLINS.”

At the close of the Exhibition, the painter visited Sir Thomas Baring, Sir George Philips, Lord Northwicke, and Lord King, at their different country seats. The following letters, describing the kindness of his reception everywhere, and the quiet, rural expeditions and easy enjoyments, afforded by the country and the society around him, will be found strongly contrasted in subject, by the thronging and varied impressions of foreign travel and foreign Art, which occupy the next series of his epistolary communications, when away from home:

“To MRS. COLLINS.

“Stratton Park, August 19th, 1835.

“I write to-day, as I think we had agreed I should do so. I have only to say that my journey was pleasant and my reception kind; that my teeth are quite comfortable, and my spirits pretty good.* I am obliged to give you a short letter, as I am engaged on a sketch which I much wish to finish. Indeed, if I had time, I have nothing to tell you which would interest a dutiful wife so much, as what I have already written. We have much company here, and everything is conducted in the most delightful manner. Though seldom alone, I am often dull. Mr. Henry Wells is here: his father’s farm, a very extensive one, at Birkly, you will have heard, perhaps, has been burnt down — no doubt by incendiaries. “ * * *

* He had been lately under the care of his friend, Mr. Cartwright, the dentist, with a painful disorder in a decayed tooth.

“Stratton Park, August 28, 1835.

“Your letter gave me much comfort, so does the thought of returning; which, God willing, I hope to do to-morrow. I have been much in company, and have been sketching a great deal; but all will not do — dull I am, and dull I fear I shall be, until I find myself in the same house with those it has pleased God to spare for my comfort. Tell the dear children that the only way they can serve their parents, is to obey them in all things: let Charley find out the passages in Scripture where this duty is most strongly insisted on, and write them down for me.

“Ever yours,

“WILLIAM COLLINS.”

Shortly after his return from Sir Thomas Baring’s, my father again left home, to comply with an invitation from Sir George Philips — from whose house he writes thus:

“To MRS. COLLINS.

“Weston House, near Chipping Norton,

“September 25th, 1835.

“It has just struck eight, and I take the earliest opportunity at this hour of the morning, to have a little chat with you. To begin then, as you always desire, at the beginning. I arrived at Kensington half an hour before the coach made its appearance — the journey concluded soon after four: I found the house here most magnificent, standing upon an eminence surrounded by beautifully wooded hills, and a highly cultivated country in every direction. Notwithstanding the unpromising appearance of the weather, especially when I first looked out of my window on the morning after my arrival, the day turned out very fine; so I rode on horseback, as you desired, about ten or a dozen miles, between lunch and dinner — which is here, as everywhere else, after seven. This of course makes bedtime very late — half-past twelve at least. Last night I slipped off at half-past eleven; and this plan I must pursue, or I foresee I shall ‘knock up.’ The party staying here is very large, very clever, and very agreeable — especially the ladies, who form the majority. Of course the excitement is considerable, and my only defence is getting to bed before midnight. I promise you I will take care of myself, as you desired; and in this, and all other matters, reverse the order of things and obey my wife!

“Our present party consists of Mrs. Sharp, and Miss Kinnaird — who both inquired very kindly after you; and Lord and Lady King, (she is the celebrated
Ada
of poor Lord Byron, and is really a most delightful and simple-minded creature;) her husband is a man of much observation, and both of them are, apparently, without an atom of pride.

“Thus much I was able to write before breakfast: since then I have had a magnificent ride of twelve miles, with Mr. G. Philips and Lord King, and am now returned to finish your letter. As the day is one of the most beautiful I ever saw, I shall get out of doors again, as soon as I can, so the rest of our party must be described in some future letter. Sir George and Lady Philips insist upon my staying till Saturday week. They have written to Lord Northwick, to ask him to come here for a few days next week; and if he is going to his place in this neighbourhood, I can then accompany him.”

“Weston House, September 29th, 1835.

“I do not much like the idea of going on to Staffordshire, but am unable to say what I shall do, until I hear from Lord Northwick. I cannot help longing for home, although I am so pleasantly spending my time — as pleasantly as the kindest friends, sprightly young ladies, and all the gaieties of this life can make me. I flatter myself that the idle life I am leading, will please you, and perhaps make me stronger; and therefore, I am determined to make the best of it. I feel convinced by this time, that I am not what I have been accustomed to think myself — an idle fellow!

“Lord and Lady King left us this morning. I have promised to go to them next month, for a few days, at Ockham, near Ripley in Surrey. Colonel and Mrs. Webster have been staying here, and a most agreeable family — Lady Waterpark and the two Miss Cavendishes. Dr. Roget, and our Hyde-park Corner friends, are still with us; Mr. Spring Rice comes on Wednesday: and so you see we go on merrily enough — but, as you know, I am getting old!”