Complete Works of Wilkie Collins (2130 page)

“I began this letter some weeks since, but was prevented finishing it by illness; and am now able, thank God, on taking it up again, to give you what I know you so much wish, — an excellent account of, I trust I may say, my recovery. After my return from Ischia, a most violent eruption took place in my head; the consequence, it is said, of using the waters for which that island is celebrated, and calculated, they say, to clear off the tendency to rheumatic affections lurking in my system. I am now able, with the help of a stick, to get about again. The first important step I took was to visit Psestum, which no doubt attracted your attention. I need hardly say I was charmed; and as the day was particularly fine, enjoyed myself much, regretting only that I had not at the proper season been able to visit that neighbourhood, for the purpose of making sketches there. La Cava, too, and Amalfi, have been for the same reason abandoned, — at least, as subjects for my pencil. I must, however, make the most of the time that remains, to lay in what Wordsworth calls ‘the raw material for future works.’ Under this impression, we have resolved to proceed to Rome forthwith; and after spending the remainder of the winter there to go to Bologna, Parma, etc., and on to Venice. Thence, through Switzerland, and home, God willing, by the beginning of July, hoping to arrive in time to see the Exhibition of this year. This plan, however, has been for a few weeks deferred, in consequence of an injury received in a fall by poor Charley, which, although not very serious in its effects, has made it prudent to remain at this place. By the end of the month we trust we shall reach Rome.

“Naples, of all the places I have seen since my departure from England, is the most perfectly adapted for the study of such a one as myself; not only that part of the Bay and city in which we live, but the neighbourhood all round the Bay abounds in materials of the most valuable kind. I am tempted to wish I could stay here until the autumn; but that is entirely out of the question, especially on the score of health. I would not venture’ to live in Southern Italy during another summer; to be as great as Turner himself. So I am now picking up everything that comes in my way, with the avidity of a miser who has access only for once to those treasures which are his meat and drink.

“I long much to get to Rome, that I may see Williams, and get from him some account of the last Exhibition in London; as, owing to my misfortune in losing the letter you wrote to me in the spring, I know no more about what was done on that occasion than the ‘man in the moon.’ Almost every day whilst I was in Naples did I inquire at the Post- office myself; and after I went to Sorrento, how anxiously did I await the arrival of letters; but, alas, those that came, came only to tantalize me with the same remarks upon the subject of the display at the new Academy, namely: — ’Of course you have heard all about the Exhibition; I shall therefore say nothing upon that subject! ‘

“What effect the contemplation of Nature, and of no pictures but those by the old masters, will have upon my future efforts in composition, and the other parts of what poor Constable used to call
‘picter-making,’
I know not. I should like when you write again, to know what you think on the subject. Our cases are very much unlike in this matter. You, when you were able to work during your absence — beside the sketches you made — kept on with actual pictures; but I have done nothing of the kind. Whether the little power I had in getting up a picture, may have left me; or whether the want of
Nature,
which I always felt was the failing in my past works, may be rectified for the future, by my long devotion here to the goddess, remains to be proved. One thing I must confess I feel pleased at, namely; — that I now feel that the excessive anxiety I always experienced about my pictures during their progress, invariably made them the worse, and that I think I am now, more of what is called a philosopher, in that respect. So, if I should not be a better painter after my trip, I shall at least be a happier man; and perhaps turn out a better-humoured old fellow, than could have been expected.

“Will you be kind enough to tell Howard, that although the last letter I wrote to him was long, the business part of it was only to tell him I could not return to England until the end of June; and that consequently should my name come on as one of the ‘Council,’ I could of course not serve during the year 1838; but that if it was necessary, (from any difficulty that might arise) I hoped to be able to serve in the following year — although I must confess, if my name has been passed over, and a temporary successor has been found, I shall be quite as well satisfied. The visitorships I provided for also; and of course Mr. Howard was kind enough to procure some gentleman to serve for me. I begged him also to give my best regards and thanks to Sir Martin Shee. When you write again, pray tell me the names of the Council, and as much Academy news as you can. While upon the subject of the Academy, I may mention that I have received an offer, upon which you will be kind enough to take the opinions of those who know the statues in the Museum here (Eastlake, Uwins, and of course yourself, must recollect some of the most striking of them.) The offer is, that casts of any of these fine works will be permitted to be made for the use of the
English
Academy. I am informed that this favour has been refused to other countries, frequently. However this may be, you may ask the President and Secretary, whether they are disposed to negotiate for this addition to their collection. I will then make inquiries respecting the expense; and through the artist who suggested the purchase — Mr. Fluor, a German — carry the thing into execution.

“There are not many English people here — the place, for Naples, is rather dull; and we are told Rome is still more so. Your friend Sir William Knighton, is, we understand, at the latter place with his family. He will not proceed to Naples until February; in which case we may meet. Your friends the Thews, left us a few days ago for Rome; and it was arranged that we should accompany them, but Charley’s illness prevented our having that pleasure — a great loss to us all, and especially to the children, who swear by the Major — he buys them swords, colours, hoops, and other heart-winning things. Mrs. Thew looks poorly; she is a most agreeable person, as well as the Major, and we hope to see a great deal of them in Rome. I know you must be very busy, (how I long to be so too, and within reach of you!) but perhaps Miss Wilkie, or Thomas, could write your thoughts some evening, as I want again to hear some of your news; and by the time I could receive your letter, a brace of new Academicians will have been elected.

“Your obliged and faithful friend,

“WILLIAM COLLINS.”

[As Sir David Wilkie’s answer to the foregoing letter, contains no reference to the Art or scenery of Italy, and is almost wholly occupied by the relation of matters of private business in the Royal Academy, which can have no interest for the general reader, it has been judged unnecessary to insert it here.]

Excursions and employments of the same nature as those already reverted to, fully occupied my father’s time at Naples, until the 8th of February; when he departed for Rome, to draw new improvement, and imbibe fresh impressions, from the fountain-head of Italian Art.

Having secured convenient lodgings, in the sunny and healthful situation in the “Corso,” which his still delicate condition of health now absolutely required, he prepared immediately for close employment, by procuring permissions to copy from any pictures in the different galleries, of which he wished to retain more than the mere remembrance; and by engaging a large and commodious “ studio,” in which he could find space enough to paint whatever groups of figures he might desire to arrange. In taking this room he was joined by Sir William Knighton, who having, during his father’s life-time, studied with great success under Sir David Wilkie, in England, was now well pleased to continue his progress in the Art, by painting from Nature, in Mr. Collins’s company, at Rome. To detail my father’s employments here, would be but to repeat the description of his close and constant study of the most picturesque among the people around him, which has been already attempted, in a preceding portion of these pages. I am fortunately enabled to avoid any tediousness of recapitulation, and at the same time to occupy agreeably this part of the present work, by presenting some interesting particulars of his impressions in the great city he was now inhabiting — full of true observation of his character — kindly communicated to me by Mr. George Richmond; whose practical and theoretical acquirements in the Art well fitted him to be the valuable and welcome companion of Mr. Collins’s visits this year to the pictures of Rome.

“It was in 1838,” writes Mr. Richmond, “that I had the happiness of meeting your father at Rome, and in his company saw many of the fine works of Art in that city; and had I followed the advice which he then gave me, — not to depend too exclusively on memory, but to note down at the time whatever forcibly struck me in the great works, and had applied this excellent advice to other matters, I should not now have to regret that many circumstances relating to him are either imperfectly remembered, or altogether forgotten by me.

“That, however, which I never can forget, was the fervour and youthful energy with which he, a veteran in Art, pursued his studies while in Rome, both from Nature and the great works there. He appeared, indeed, to have come to school again; and although at that time but weak in body, it was surprising to see how the energy of his purpose sustained him through periods of labourious study; when he was engaged, not so much in practising that form of Art in which none had excelled him, as in adding new materials for thought and future practice, which have been embodied in many of his latter works.

“It was a great lesson to the young men about him, to see with what simple earnestness he followed the chosen employment of his life, making all other engagements subservient or tributary to this one object. Well might he have adopted the motto of Michael Angelo, —
’Ancora imparo.’

“My idea is, that of all the painted works at Rome, those in the Sistine Chapel made the deepest impression on him. I have been there for hours together with him, and remember, among other qualities, his admiring the truth and nature in them; and, on one occasion, as we returned home from the Chapel, passing from the ‘Borgo,’ — among groups of figures lying in the street, he pointed out some, saying: ‘How like Michael Angelo! How like what we have just been looking at! This is where he got his materials for those noble groups;’ and went on to say, that, ‘Given the seeing eye, there might we also find such material.’

“The inclusiveness of his taste sometimes came out in curious contrast to the lover of only this or that school or master. Your honoured father valued all schools, and revered all masters — but no bunglers. He did not, — if I report him truly, — see less in the Flemish and Dutch schools, because he saw so much in the Italian. Nor had he so learned to admire Raphael, that he could see nothing in Michael Angelo.

“The productions of early Art were something more than figures standing on tiptoe to him; for he had a heart to feel their tenderness and devotion, and an eye to see, that if they had known how, the painters of the age would have drawn them much better.”

While engaged in his second course of study at Rome, my father did not forget to communicate again with his old friend and correspondent. He wrote thus:

“To SIR DAVID WILKIE, R.A.

“Rome, March 9th, 1838.

“Dear Wilkie, — Your very welcome letter reached us in safety, and interested us very much. The doings of the Royal Academy had found their way to Rome, however, before I received it. Your determination respecting the election, or rather the non- election of persons residing abroad, is of course unpopular here; and I must say is not very judicious in such times as we live in. It checks the ardour of English artists here, and deprives the Exhibition of a very interesting class of works, which can be better done here than in England. Had such men as Wyatt and Williams been ‘Associates,’ — which they ought to have been long ago, — surely, when death sweeps off four Academicians at a time, your difficulties of election might be less. It is desirable, too, that English artists, who are the best at Rome, should be members of the Royal Academy in England. Wyatt has finished a model of a Hebe for Lord de Grey, which would warrant a departure from an old and absurd law, made when the Royal Academy was anything but a liberal body, as it is now.

“Your letter to Sir William Knighton he received about the time I received that you wrote to me. He is working, or rather has been working, (for recently he went to Naples, which interfered with his regular studies,) with great assiduity; and some drawings of heads from some fine living models now at Rome, executed by him, are most excellent. He has put himself under Minardi, in spite of which I think he will do well; and to-morrow we commence together in the same studio, where he means to try his hand at painting as well as drawing. He is quite as anxious as ever to be really an artist, and he will in every way do honour to the profession. He seems to me, if possible, more amiable and sincere than when plain Mr. Knighton. He comes of a fine stock, and seems to have happiness within his reach.