an autobiography-第7章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


e　him　to　visit　Italy；　and　pursue　his　studies　there。　　It　was　the　most　graceful　mode　in　which　Mr。　Miller　could　express　his　obligations。　　It　was　an　offer　pure　and　simple；　without　security；　and　as　such　was　thankfully　accepted　by　my　father。

In　those　days　an　artist　was　scarcely　considered　to　have　completed　his　education　until　he　had　studied　the　works　of　the　great　masters　at　Florence　and　Rome。　　My　father　left　England　for　Italy　on　the　30th　of　December　1782。　　He　reached　Rome　in　safety；　and　earnestly　devoted　himself　to　the　study　of　art。　　He　remained　in　Italy　for　the　greater　part　of　two　years。　　He　visited　Florence；　Bologna；　Padua；　and　other　cities　where　the　finest　artistic　works　were　to　be　found。　　He　made　studies　and　drawings　of　the　best　of　them；　besides　making　sketches　from　nature　of　the　most　remarkable　places　he　had　visited。　　He　returned　to　Edinburgh　at　the　end　of　1784；　and　immediately　resumed　his　profession　of　a　portrait　painter。　　He　was　so　successful　that　in　a　short　time　he　was　enabled　to　repay　his　excellent　friend　Miller　the　#500　which　he　had　so　generously　lent　him　a　few　years　before。

The　satisfactory　results　of　his　zealous　practice；　and　of　his　skill　and　industry　in　his　profession；　together　with　the　prospect　of　increasing　artistic　work；　enabled　him　to　bring　to　a　happy　conclusion　an　engagement　he　had　entered　into　before　leaving　Edinburgh　for　Italy。　I　mean　his　marriage　to　my　motherone　of　the　greatest　events　of　his　life　which　took　place　on　the　3rd　of　January　1786。　　Barbara　Foulis　was　a　distant　relation　of　his　own。　　She　was　the　daughter　of　William　Foulis；　Esq。；　of　Woodhall　and　Colinton；　near　Edinburgh。　　Her　brother；　the　late　Sir　James　Foulis；　my　uncle；　succeeded　to　the　ancient　baronetcy　of　the　family。　See　Burkes's　Peerage　and　Baronetage*　　＇footnote。。。　In　Burke's　Peerage　and　Baronetage　an　account　is　given　of　the　Foulis　family。　　They　are　of　Norman　origin。　　A　branch　settled　in　Scotland　in　the　reign　of　Malcolm　Canmore。　　By　various　intermarriages；　the　Foulises　are　connected　with　the　Hopetoun；　Bute；　and　Rosebery　families。　The　present　holder　of　the　title　represents　the　houses　of　Colinton；　Woodhall；　and　Ravelstone。　　。。。＇

My　mother　did　not　bring　with　her　any　fortune；　so　to　speak；　in　the　way　of　gold　or　acres；　but　she　brought　something　far　better　into　my　father's　home；a　sweetness　of　disposition；　and　a　large　measure　of　common　sense；　which　made　her；　in　all　respects；　the　devoted　helpmate　of　her　husband。　　Her　happy　cheerful　temperament；　and　her　constant　industry　and　attention；　shed　an　influence　upon　all　around　her。　　By　her　example　she　inbred　in　her　children　the　love　of　truth；　excellence；　and　goodness。　That　was　indeed　the　best　fortune　she　could　bring　into　a　good　man's　home。

During　the　first　year　of　my　father's　married　life；　when　he　lived　in　St。　James's　Square；　he　painted　the　well…known　portrait　of　Robert　Burns　the　poet。　　Burns　had　been　introduced　to　him　by　Mr。　Miller　at　Dalswinton。　　An　intimate　friendship　sprang　up　between　the　artist　and　the　poet。　　The　love　of　nature　and　of　natural　objects　was　common　to　both。　　They　also　warmly　sympathised　in　their　political　views。　When　Burns　visited　Edinburgh　my　father　often　met　him。　　Burns　had　a　strange　aversion　to　sit　for　his　portrait；　though　often　urgently　requested　to　do　so。　　But　when　at　my　father's　studio；　Burns　at　last　consented；　and　his　portrait　was　rapidly　painted。　　It　was　done　in　the　course　of　a　few　hours；　and　my　father　made　a　present　of　it　to　Mrs。　Burns。

A　mezzotint　engraving　of　it　was　afterwards　published　by　William　Walker；　son…in…law　of　the　famous　Samuel　Reynolds。　　When　the　first　proof　impression　was　submitted　to　my　father；　he　said　to　Mr。　Walker：　〃I　cannot　better　express　to　you　my　opinion　of　your　admirable　engraving；　than　by　telling　you　that　it　conveys　to　me　a　more　true　and　lively　remembrance　of　Burns　than　my　own　picture　of　him　does；　it　so　perfectly　renders　the　spirit　of　his　expression；　as　well　as　the　details　of　his　every　feature。〃

While　Burns　was　in　Edinburgh；　my　father　had　many　interesting　walks　with　him　in　the　neighbourhood　of　the　city。　　The　Calton　Hill；　Arthur's　Seat；　Salisbury　Crags。　　Habbie's　How；　and　the　nooks　in　the　Pentlands；　were　always　full　of　interest；　and　Burns；　with　his　brilliant　and　humorous　conversation；　made　the　miles　very　short　as　they　strode　along。　　Lockhart　says；　in　his　Life　of　Burns；　that　〃the　magnificent　scenery　of　the　Scottish　capital　filled　the　poet　with　extraordinary　delight。　　In　the　spring　mornings　he　walked　very　often　to　the　top　of　Arthur's　Seat；　and；　lying　prostrate　on　the　turf；　surveyed　the　rising　of　the　sun　out　of　the　sea　in　silent　admiration；　his　chosen　companion　on　such　occasions　being　that　learned　artist　and　ardent　lover　of　nature；　Alexander　Nasmyth。〃

A　visit　which　the　two　paid　to　Roslin　Castle　is　worthy　of　commemoration。　On　one　occasion　my　father　and　a　few　choice　spirits　had　been　spending　a　〃nicht　wi'　Burns。〃　　The　place　of　resort　was　a　tavern　in　the　High　Street；　Edinburgh。　　As　Burns　was　a　brilliant　talker；　full　of　spirit　and　humour；　time　fled　until　the　〃wee　sma'　hours　ayont　the　twal'〃　arrived。　The　party　broke　up　about　three　o'clock。　　At　that　time　of　the　year　（the　13th　of　June）　the　night　is　very　short；　and　morning　comes　early。　Burns；　on　reaching　the　street；　looked　up　to　the　sky。　　It　was　perfectly　clear；　and　the　rising　sun　was　beginning　to　brighten　the　mural　crown　of　St。　Giles's　Cathedral。

Burns　was　so　much　struck　with　the　beauty　of　the　morning　that　he　put　his　hand　on　my　father's　arm　and　said；　〃It'll　never　do　to　go　to　bed　in　such　a　lovely　morning　as　this！　　Let's　awa'　to　Roslin　Castle。〃　　No　sooner　said　than　done。　　The　poet　and　the　painter　set　out。　　Nature　lay　bright　and　lovely　before　them　in　that　delicious　summer　morning。　　After　an　eight…miles　walk　they　reached　the　castle　at　Roslin。　　Burns　went　down　under　the　great　Norman　arch；　where　he　stood　rapt　in　speechless　admiration　of　the　scene。　　The　thought　of　the　eternal　renewal　of　youth　and　freshness　of　nature；　contrasted　with　the　crumbling　decay　of　man's　efforts　to　perpetuate　his　work；　even　when　founded　upon　a　rock；　as　Roslin　Castle　is；　seemed　greatly　to　affect　him。

My　father　was　so　much　impressed　with　the　scene　that；　while　Burns　was　standing　under　the　arch；　he　took　out　his　pencil　and　a　scrap　of　paper　and　made　a　hasty　sketch　of　the　subject。　　This　sketch　was　highly　treasured　by　my　father；　in　remembrance　of　what　must　have　been　one　of　the　most　memorable　days　of　his　life。

Talking　of　clubs　reminds　me　that　there　was　a　good　deal　of　club　life　in　Edinburgh　in　those　days。　　The　most　notable　were　those　in　which　the　members　were　drawn　together　by　occupations；　habits；　or　tastes。　　They　met　in　the　evenings；　and　conversed　upon　congenial　subjects。　　The　clubs　were　generally　held　in　one　or　other　of　the　taverns　situated　in　or　near　the　High　Street。　　Every　one　will　remember　the　Lawyers'　Club；　held　in　an　Edinburgh　close；　presided　over　by　Pleydell；　so　well　described　by　Scott　in　Guy　Mannering。

In　my　father's　early　days　he　was　a　member　of　a　very　jovial　club；　called　the　Poker　Club。　　It　was　so…called　because　the　first　chairman；　immediately　on　his　election；　in　a　spirit　of　drollery；　laid　hold　of　the　poker　at　the　fireplace；　and　adopted　it　as　his　insignia　of　office。　He　made　a　humorous　address　from　the　chair；　or　〃the　throne；〃　as　he　called　it；　with　sceptre　or　poker　in　hand；　and　the　club　was　thereupon　styled　by　acclamation　〃The　Poker　Club。〃　　I　have　seen　my　father's　diploma　of　membership；　it　was　tastefully　drawn　on　parchment；　with　the　poker　duly　emblazoned　on　it　as　the　regalia　of　the　club。

In　my　own　time；　the　club　that　he　was　most　connected　with　was　the　Dilettanti　Club。　　Its　meetings　were　held　every　fortnight；　on　Thursday　evenings；　in　a　commodious　tavern　in　the　High　Street。　　The　members　were　chiefly　artists；　or　men　known　for　their　love　of　art。　　Among　then　were　Henry　Raeburn；　Hugh　Williams　（the　Grecian）；　Andrew　Geddes；　William　Thomson；　John　Shetkay；　William　Nicholson；　William　Allan；　Alexander　Nasmyth；　the　Rev。　John　Thomson　of　Duddingston；　George　Thomson；　Sir　Walter　Scott；　John　Lockhart；　Dr。　Brewster；　David　Wilkie；　Henry　Cockburn；　Francis　Jeffrey；　John　A。　Murray；　Professor　Wilson；　John　Ballantyne；　James　Ballantyne；　James　Hogg　（the　Ettrick　Shepherd）；　and　David　Bridges；　the　secretary。*　　＇footnote。。。　Davie　Bridges　was　a　character。　　In　my　early　days　he　was　a　cloth　merchant　in　the　High　Street。　　His　shop　was　very　near　that　gigantic　lounge；　the　old　Parliament　House；　and　was　often　resorted　to　by　non…business　visitors。　　Bridges　had　a　good　taste　for　pictures。　　He　had　a　small　but　choice　collection　by　the　Old　Masters；　which　he　kept　arranged　in　the　warehouse　under　his　shop。　　He　took　great　pride　in　exhibiting　them　to　his　visitors；　and　expatiating　upon　their　excellence。　I　remember　being　present　in　his　warehouse　with　my　father　when　a　very　beautiful　small　picture　by　Richard　Wilson　was　under　review。　　Davie　burst　out　emphatically　with；　〃Eh；　man；　did　ye　ever　see　such　glorious　buttery　touches　as　on　these　clouds！〃　　His　joking　friends　clubbed　him　〃Director…General　of　the　Fine　Arts　for　Scotland；〃　a　title　which　he　complacently　accepted。　　Besides　showing　off　his　pictures；　Davie　was　an　art　critic；　and　wrote　articles　for　the　newspapers　and　magazines。　Unfortunately；　however；　his　attention　to　pictures　prevented　him　from　attending　to　his　shop；　and　his　customers　（who　were　not　artists）　forsook　him；　and　bought　their　clothes　elsewhere。　　He　accordingly　shut　up　his　shop；　and　devoted　himself　to　art　criticism；　in　which；　for　a　time；　he　possessed　a　monopoly。　　。。。＇

The　drinks　were　restricted　to　Edinburgh　ale　and　whisky　toddy。

An　admirable　picture　of　the　club　in　full　meeting　was　painted　by　William　Allan；　in　which　characteristic　portraits　of　all　the　leading　members　were　introduced　in　full　social　converse。　　Among　the　more　prominent　portraits　is　one　of　my　father；　who　is　represented　as　illustrating　some　subject　he　is　describing；　by　drawing　it　on　the　part　of　the　table　before　him；　with　his　finger　dipped　in　toddy。　　Other　marked　and　well…known　characteristics　of　the　members　are　skilfully　introduced　in　the　picture。　The　artist　afterwards　sold　it　to　Mr。　Horrocks　of　Preston；　in　Lancashire。

Besides　portrait　painting；　my　father　was　much　employed　in　assisting　the　noblemen　and　landed　gentry　of　Scotland　in　improving　the　landscape　appearance　of　their　estates；　especially　when　seen　from　their　mansion　windows。　　His　fine　taste；　and　his　love　of　natural　scenery；　gave　him　great　advantages　in　this　respect。　　He　selected　the　finest　sites　for　the　new　mansions；　when　they　were　erected　in　lieu　of　the　old　towers　and　crenellated　castles。　　Or；　he　designed　alterations　of　the　old　buildings　so　as　to　preserve　their　romantic　features；　and　at　the　same　time　to　fit　them　for　the　requirements　of　modern　domestic　life。

In　those　early　days　of　art…knowledge；　there　scarcely　existed　any　artistic　feeling　for　the　landscape　beauty　of　nature。　　There　was　an　utter　want　of　appreciation　of　the　dignified　beauty　of　the　old　castles　and　mansions；　the　remnants　of　which　were　in　too　many　instances　carted　away　as　material　for　now　buildings。　　There　was　also　at　that　time　an　utter　ignorance　of　the　beauty　and　majesty　of　old　trees。　　A　forest　of　venerable　oaks　or　beeches　was　a　thing　to　be　done　away　with。　　They　were　merely　cut　down　as　useless　timber；　even　when　they　so　finely　embellished　the　landscape。　　My　father　exerted　himself　successfully　to　preserve　these