Chapter XXIX: Letter II

The letter from which I here extract appears to be incomplete--there is no signature to it. The oil-picture of _Parisina_ represents the jealous rage of the husband consequent upon the words of love murmured by Parisina in her sleep--a dramatically treated subject, painted in a dark continental style, not at all hinting of “Præraphaelitism.” It now belongs to Mr. Henry Boddington, of Manchester. The last thing on the sheet of letter-paper is the sketch (a slight affair) of _The Banks and Braes of Bonny Doune_. I am satisfied that Brown did not ever paint this intended subject. We see here that he “modelled” a little boy; but I think the process of modelling was still almost a novelty to him when, after Dante Rossetti’s death in 1882, he undertook the bas-relief subjects for his grave-cross, and afterwards the bust-monument in Cheyne Walk, Chelsea.

35 Arlington Street, Camden Town.
[? February 1845.]

My dearest Lizz,

I write you from the Studio again, as I had no paper this
morning. I have been out and executed all your commissions....
I went to the British Institution yesterday, as it was
varnishing-day, and saw all is a noble-looking man. They have not
hung my sketch, but the _Parisina_ looks very well, as it has got
a good light.

I saw Mr. and Mrs. MacIan, a Scotch artist and his wife, whom I
met at Mr. Etty’s. He was in perfect rapture with _Parisina_,
said the price I asked was perfectly preposterous, fifty guineas.
He said it was worth six times as much. You will be surprised
but not displeased to hear that I have almost begun a picture
for the Royal Academy--_The Banks and Braes of Bonny Doune_--one
full-length figure the size of life. As it will be a very pretty
thing, it might sell; at all events, it will be something to send
there. But after some reflection I have decided not to begin it
till three weeks before the exhibition opens, as I will then be
better able to judge if it will have time. Besides, if I can get
the old Judge Best to sit, I would not have time for both for
certain.

I have made an outline from nature for it. She is bare-foot,
seated on the bank and with the water at her feet, looking round
at the birds at play, which awakes a pang.

I have modelled a little boy, and drawn him from Mrs. Christie’s
little boy....