The Diary Extracts 15 March 1875 - 12 June 1877
15 March 1875 – To the ‘eaux fortistes’ Cadart and the sculptor Carrier Belleuse in the rue de la Tour d’Auvergne, - also to the National Library
16 March – Again to the library & later to the etchers Cadart where one of his assistants showed me their method. I drew the small sketch (on the way) and had it printed – retouching with the drypoint and the entire process only occupied about an hour, and I called on the sculptor Carrier Belleuse.
18 March – Began my M. Antoinette bust at C. Belleuse’s.
[trip to Vienna via Munich]
4 April – On Sunday called on M. Lenoir at the Ecole des Beaux Arts, which owes its existence to his father Alexandre Lenoir whose coll of hist mons I copied the year before last.
5 April - Went to Carrier Belleuse’s but did nothing as he was away.
6 April – Did a little more to my bust of the Queen at Belleuse’s.
9 April – To Carrier Belleuse’s after breakfast …… He touched up my bust of the Queen which under my last efforts had become like what dressmakers try bonnets on – in small. I now have hopes of by combined efforts some good result being obtained.
10 April – From 10 till 1 at the Archives working at the papers relating to the court of M.A.. To Carrier Belleuse’s after bkfst at Bre’bouts (?) and worked till dark – I got a cap of the correct pattern and made a copy of David’s sketch of the Queen on the way to execution, so at any rate to be as correct as possible. C.B. thinks it (the bust) will come right but it will require a good deal of help for that most desirable consummation.
11 April – Went right across town to Carrier’s atelier to give an hour’s work to my bust of M.A. Another afternoon’s work will I trust see the little idea carried out and completed.
14 April – Called on Gustave Doré who was sorry for himself, having a slight pain in his interior and then finished my bust of the Queen at C. Belleuse’s.
17 April – Left Paris.
21 July – My bust arrived from Paris.
[Aug.-Sept. Visit to France, all taken up with research and tourism]
11 Oct. Called on Carrier Belleuse
12 Oct – It poured in torrents but I got to C. Belleuse’s studio and began a new bust of the Queen - to be I hope a pendant to the other and a contrast as she is ‘en amazone’
15 Oct - Called in the evg. ….. Luca the Italian sculptor and assistant of C. Belleuse and mine too!
16 Oct - At work on the bust from 2 till dark.
17 Oct. Every day this week spent the afternoon at Carrier Belleuse’s (15 rue de laTour d’Auvergne) on my 2nd bust of M.A. I have taken the portrait this time from the pastelle half-length of her which I saw in April at [illegible –Luxembourg/ Laxonbury ?] and which I got photographed – the dress is therefore as correct as possible – tricorne and her hunting coat slashed across with Brandenbourg. I flatter myself it was an ingenious idea to place her left hand (for although but a bust her hands appear) holding on her tricorne hat so that the idea of movement is given and her right holds her whip so that what with the attitude which is somewhat leaning forwards and the hair in loose curls floating behind her one would (I should think) be puzzled as to the fact of her being supposed to be on a horse. This time I have not worked in the large studio with all the other assistants of C.B., but in the smaller separate one which they call the ‘châlet’ where I have met a most good natured and civil young Italian sculptor of the name of Luca who has not a little assisted me with the bust – Carrier confides to him nearly all his sketches in plaster, for he now seldom does more, to be finished, and besides having some really interesting work himself, Luca is withal the most unassuming and modest artist I have ever met.
19 Oct. – Took tea in the evening with my young Italian sculptor and companion Luca at the top of a house (80) in rue Monge – his brother and sister-in-law with whom he lives most kind, civil, and we had quite a pleasant soirée. Luca has begun a small bust of me to be made in terracotta.
21 Oct. – Bust all but completed
22 Oct – The bust now all but finished and I think it will be a success but I must again acknowledge how much it owes to Luca’s kind aid and skill.
23 Oct – In the afternoon finished with the help of Luca the bust of M.A. I am very…….of its success.
24 Oct. Left Paris
[a general comment on the week beginning 1 Nov.] [Trentham] It has been satisfactory to have been to the old house to see the memorial to dear Albert placed in the church, in the sort of chapel that has been formed since the first monument of Noble’s was placed there – the bust, an excellent likeness, is framed in an alabaster mount and seems to look down and protect the recumbent figure below it – it was my idea to have the two lines from Mrs Hemans “They that have seen thy look in death no more may fear to die” inscribed beneath. I had also wished the words “Spiritu magno vidit ultima” added, but Gracie did not I suppose care or understand them….. 2 Nov. The men worked hard at getting the necessary incision made in the wall for placing the bust & Noble sent down one of his foremen to superintend the placing of this 2nd work of his in Trentham Church.
3 Nov. In the afternoon Horn (?) drove me to the potteries. We visited Mintons’ showroom and also Copelands. At Mintons I was shown my bust of Marie Antoinette in Parian, somewhat smaller than the plaster.
5 Nov. Called at Noble’s in the afternoon to tell him how successfully the bust had been placed at its final dedication in the church.
18 Nov – Lunched at Grosvenor House and spent an interesting afternoon calling at various studios with Westminster – to Boehm the sculptor, who occupies what was Marochetti’s studio in Fulham Road and who is at work on a racy work, a thoroughbred stallion on its hind legs held by a groom. There I also saw the full length marble statue he is doing of Louisa Lady Waterford, and subscribed to by her friends and admirers of which I am a humble but ardent one, but B. has not done justice to her great beauty and goddess-like majesty. We also called and on another sculptor, the French Dalou – whose peasant women are delightful and who is great at expression. Also to Millais where he showed us his large landscape of a view in Perthshire, the best thing he has done in that line since ‘Chill October’ and the striking unfinished full-length of Constance W.
24 Nov. - Off to Paris.
26 Nov. – After 4 called at Carrier Belleuse’s and found him and Luca Madrassi in the little studio. I went to the latter’s room after 8 walking to 8b rue Monge and back and made a small skertch in clay of a head.* [on opposite page} * An ambitious idea as this head is that of our Saviour. However, like with my bust of M. Antoinette I have had this subject before me of late, and in a few minutes while Luca was working on the bust he is doing of me and his sister in low marble relief, Bouvier, making our tea, got the pose and expression I wished, and which I had to do in life-size.
28 Nov. – Seeing in a small shop window last night a little plaster statuette of one of the Old Guard presenting arms the idea struck me of doing him wounded on his back but still clutching into his left arm his musket – I bought the little model & took it this evg to Luca Madrassi’s where I roughed out my idea in about a foot of length in clay – L. giving me hints and an occasional touch.
29 Nov. - In the evg began the head of our Saviour in………….., over life size, at Luca Madrassi’s – it already has expression and I believe it will be a success.
2 Dec. – Another couple of evenings will I think complete the bust.
4 Dec. – Called on Luca Madrassi at Carrier Belleuse’s, my second bust of M.A. is ‘au four’.
9 Dec. I went for the last time to the rue Monge 8b, the bust of our Saviour is a ‘fait accompli’ so Luca and I employed the couple of hours between 9 and 11 I passed there in sketching out the full-length figure of Marie Antoinette with hands bound on her way to the scaffold. We made a rough outline in clay about 2 inches high and enough to make me hope that it will be worth doing life size. I have arranged with him to take a little studio for next year in the vicinity of rue Monge.
10 Dec. – Left Paris.
{Looking back on the year he says that the 3 busts are the only lasting achievement he can record in the year]
22 Jan. 1876 – [Whistler] – A most interesting little man full of genius but prouder of having a white lock of hair than of all his talents.
25 Jan. – An interesting morning for I went and watched Millais painting his full length portrait of Constance – the head all but finished. It is massed – very like but not flattered, he has not refined her as to figure and there is no expression in the work. I sent him my first bust of M.A. for which he expressed his liking having seen it at Grosvenor House.
3 Feb. – The box fr Paris which arrived last night was unpacked. Unluckily Madrassi’s group of figures was as much broken as the jug in the ‘Cruche cassée’. My bust of the Saviour being solid was intact. It looks well placed on top of the long fauteuil in the gallery.
8 Feb. Millais came with me here on foot…..and seemed really struck with the large bust of Christ.
20 Feb. – To Paris.
22 Feb. Called at Barbedienne’s where they have another bronze cast of my 1st M.A. bust which I hope to have sent to the Exhibition here in May. I also went to see Madrassi at Carrier Belleuse’s but found the Châlet where we used to work together deserted – but he was only absent for the day as I heard from him later.
23 Feb. - Called on Madrassi at C. Belleuse’s and went with him to see the studio he has taken for us No.4 rue Candolle close by the rue Monge. Capitally lighted and on the ground floor. I hope to begin work there tomorrow.
24 Feb. – That important article in modelling, the clay, had not arrived and we could only settle what we intend doing when it does come. Passed the evening with Madrassi and his relatives.
25 Feb. - I visited Carrier Belleuse and he showed me the bust no.2 of M. Antoinette ‘agrandi”. In the clay it is larger than life but the plaster cast will be somewhat smaller – it makes a really striking bust.
27 Feb. – Began work at our, Luca Madrassi and my studio at 4 rue Candolle. In the afternoon we got the figure in the nude about 3 ft & ½ in height. As far as one can judge, the attitude is good, the head slightly turned to the right which gives contrast to the no.1 bust.
28 Feb. – To Carrier Belleuse’s studio and touched up the large bust of the Queen they have enlarged for me there after the small one.
29 Feb. – I dined at 8b rue Monge with Luca Madrassi and the Le Bouviers and spent the evening in our studio…… Mme Le Bouvier most kindly had a cast of her hands taken, tied at the wrists, which I hope to make use of in the full length statuette I am now engaged on – began also a sketch of ‘Cinderella’, seeing Mme. Le B. cleaning out the floor with a huge broom gave me the idea which I hope to carry out some day.
5 March – I passed the afternoon at the studio. The statuette is now getting draped and we have a ‘mannekin’ with real drapery to guide us, This mannekin was cast from the figure when still in the nude, the cast of the tied hands of Madm Le Bouvier have also come out successfully even to the poor little lady’ flesh which is squeezed up by the cords tied almost cruelly tight by Luca Madrassi. He and I settled that it was absolutely necessary to have the statuette done big in marble!! After all although a life size statue in marble sounds stupendous it will only have to be doubled from the size of the one we are now engaged upon.
6 March – Resolved to leave for London having several reasons, the principal being that I am interfering with Luca’s work for the Salon next May. He is engaged on a large group, and works all day for Carrier Belleuse, his only time being the evening, but when I am here he insists on helping me. The statuette is sufficiently advanced for the present and I hope to finish it next month.
15 March – With Constance to Millais who gave him her final sitting for the full length portrait of herself. It is admirable, the details such as the old Venetians …..admirably painted.
20 March – To see the artist Poynter with Ld. Wharncliff for whom he is painting a fine work – the subject Atalanta.
25 March – To private view of French Gallery in Pall Mall. The best picture is Gérôme’s ‘ Son Eminence Gris’ [sic]. Called on Brucciani about sending 3 of my terracotta (copies) to the Philadelphia Exhibition.
29 March – Two busts went to the Academy – the head of our Saviour and M. Antoinette in hunting array.
5 April – Invitation to be painted by Millais.
6 April – [sitting, much as it appears in the published volume of the memoirs]
7 April – It seems to me nearly finished and he says it is he thinks the best painted head he has ever done, better than one of his eldest [sic] which is superb.
16 April – To Paris.
17 April – Began today by going to the ‘costumier’ Babin to find if he had completed my ‘grenadier’ dress – but he hadn’t. This is for a future statue. Called on Luca Madrassi …….. I went to the studio and passed the evening there. The statuette of the Queen I hope to finish before leaving Paris and to rough in that of the Grenadier of the Old Guard.
28 April – The statue as far as the figure and dress go is almost completed, but the face and hands are still to be done & I rather dread these – however it promises extremely well.
1 May – The day of the opening of the French Salon to the public. I hear from Madrassi that my bust in bronze of the Queen is not there, tant pis, this is the reverse of the medal, but I am quite content with exhibition in London and shall try again another year. He says that C. Dillens is most liked at the Salon and that my offending his [illegible word] may be the cause of its rejection.
3 May – Visited the Salon and do not know whether to be most struck by the vulgarity of the pictures or the ugliness of the sculpture.
5 May – Early to the Louvre where I met Boehm (the Austrian sculptor). I invited him to come to see my work in the rue Candolle which he goodnaturedly consented to, & expressed almost unqualified approval. He suggested some slight alterations in the drapery which were carried out on my return in the afternoon.
6 May [visits Gustave Doré and they both call on Louise Abbema]
7 May – To Doré’s atelier in the rue de Bayard. After a stay of half an hour there we adjourned to an adjoining restaurant, that of the Moulin Rouge and had an excellent bkfst after which he came with me to the rue Candolle. We drove in a shut-fly he objecting to an open owing to the high wind. He was more silent and preoccupied than usual [illegible word] but he was most good natured about the statuettes and sketches Madrassi (who by the way had filled the little studio with flowers and shrubs) showed him, and remained with us more than an hour. He left at 3 after having arranged for me to set him up in the requisites for modelling as he intends to begin soon.
9 May – The statuette is now completely finished.
10 May – The evening in the studio, where I have seen for the last time the statuette of M. At. In the clay, as tomorrow it will be moulded in plaster and the original model destroyed. We have had ‘carte de visite‘ photos taken of it, and the new work ‘La garde meurt mais ne se rend pas’, of which the sketch was done last winter will now be begun life size in clay. In a few weeks then also the statue of the Queen will be begun in marble.
12 May – Passed the evening in the studio, where the Queen appeared out of her mould, white and splendid in plaster and full of promise for the marble.
18 May – Watched Sybil Grosvenor sitting to Millais. Constance looked in with Beatrice, whose final sitting was to take place in the afternoon.
11 June – To Paris.
12 June – To the studio. Found a man occupied in shaping out the marble for the bust of our Saviour.
13 Jun – To the studio. Shaped out the face of the ‘Grenadier’ which is now in ([illegible word] ……. Up in clay life size ad promises well.
20 June – Passed the evening at the studio, but our model for the Grenadier played us false & did not appear which hindered progress. However he (the statue) is already half clothed and I hope will be fully before I leave this.
26 June – I regret to hear this evening (fr. Castle Leinster) of Mr Noble’s death. I saw a great deal of him 6 or 7 years ago when he was doing the monument of my dearest mother for Trentham church. He has been ill long and is now at rest, and with the 2 sons he lost, the sad death of the last no doubt hastened his release.
9 July – Up to town for a dinner at Leighton’s – a rich and artistic repast, the principal guest was the French or rather Italian sculptor, D’Epinay – a worn out, cadaverous man of about forty. Millais and Calderon were also there. I sat between our host and Elmore with whom I got on the subject of Marie Antoinette, and who has with the exception of Ward, studied her more closely than any other English artist.
11 July – D’Epinay (the sculptor) called at 12 and Hamilton Aidé soon after. The latter was also at Leighton’s dinner ….. we went over the Bridgewater Gallery – both much struck by the Raffaelles [sic].
24 July – G. Doré came here with a friend, an English clergyman. I went on to O’Connor’s studio (47 Leicester Square) where a literary and artistic meeting was going on. The last there as O’C is about to leave the place.
9 Aug. – Exhibition at Wrexham of the Westminster portraits by Millais.
29 Aug. – To Paris.
30 Aug. - Went to the studio….. where I found Madrassi and the ‘Grenadier’.
31 Aug. – Called for L. Madrassi at 11 at Doré’s studio in the rue Bayard (where he, L.M., is at work on a large group of sculpture representing Cupid and Fate) and went with him by steamer to Auteuil to see in a small shed the statue of M. Antoinette which is being done by a Mons. Meynier, a pupil of Carpeaux, and an assistant. The head is half finished and promises well ……….. The place where my statue of the Queen is being done (I hope to see it completed next January) is close to the Versailles road (29 rue Le Manoir, Point du Jour) within a few yards of the road where the poor Queen often passed along.
1 Sept. – I like the statue of the Grenadier more and more and believe it will be a great success. Both the Le Bouviers were with L. Madrassi & myself in the studio full of admiration of the statue.
2 Sept. – To the Point du Jour in the afternoon. The man had made progress on the head of the statue since Thursday when I first saw it.
4 Sept. – Another visit to Point du Jour with [illegible name]
6 Sept. – With Sir Richard and Lady Wallace and their secretary to see the statue in progress.
8 Sept. – In the evening an unlucky occurence occurred in the studio. The gun of the ‘Old Guard’ which is cast from an original flintlock, fell out of the statue’s hand, breaking it as well, into fragments. However this will be easily repaired, at least so says Madrassi.
11 Sept. – To Point du Jour with Madrassi - sensible progress.
14 Sept. – The rest of the evening I passed at the studio, staying late, it being my last night’s work there for a couple of months at least. The Grenadier is now finished to all intents and purposes only some details of costume etc. being needed and these will be done by another hand!
6 Oct. – Recd 2 pretty photos of a kind of [illegible word] by D’Epinay, which he sends from Rome, accompanied by a charming letter which I have forwarded to Leighton as it was at the latter’s house that I had D’Epinay’s acquaintance.
4 Nov. – Went with Westminster to Marks’ s studio in St John’s Wood to see the first studies of the Canterbury Pilgrims he has done for the Hall at Eaton. As decoration nothing can be better or more effective. Marks has a studio in his garden – a dreary place somewhat.
5 Nov. – To Paris
6 Nov. – By steamer after breakfast to the Point du Jour where I found the marble statue of the Queen much advanced. I am exceedingly pleased with it and although it sounds conceited to say so I think one cannot help admiring it. Passed the evening at the studio with Luca Madrassi – the Old Guard is all but finished. I found the finisher of the details, such as the trampled corn and details of the uniform, a Mons. Charles, at work when I surprised Madrassi by coming in, as I had not written to tell him I was coming.
7 Nov. – I called on Carrier Belleuse in the rue de la Tour d’Auvergne and found L. Madrassi there and his friend and fellow worker (on the Grenadier) Mon. Charles, then both of them dined with me at the Café Foyot. In the evening we had a merry dinner and after it adjourned to th studio in rue Candolle, finishing the evening by drinking tea with the Le Bouviers at 8b rue Monge. Called on Gustave Doré in the morning.
9 Nov. – Left Paris.
13 Dec. – [something about a bust of Queen Victoria after Noble to be commissioned from Raggi]
14 Dec. – Oscar Wilde (whose acquaintance I made when at Oxford in May [?] with Frank Miles) came from there and brought a young artist friend with him by name A. Damfries May, a pleasing youth of 18, who began his career in art by exhibiting when only 14 at the Dudley Gallery – ‘Precocious May’ he ought I think to be called. They lunched here and I took them to 4.30 service at St George’s and saw them off after tea at 6. W. is a wild heretical youth and I think May has all the appearance of a very dear fellow. He seems modest to boot.
17 Dec. – Borden left for town immediately after lunch. He wants me to continue writing articles on artists, & Boehm and Dalou will probably be the next.
24 Dec. – Read Pater’s studies on the Renaissance. I put Doré’s letter between this page, as it is worth keeping, being much more expressive than he is in conversation, at least with me.
31 Dec. – I had a satisfactory letter from Madrassi yesterday, reporting the progress of the statues in Paris , that of the Queen and the Grenadier. I trust by this twelvemonth both will have been finished, exhibited, bought & sold.
4 Jan 1877 – I passed all the morning with Mrs Greville (née Sabine Tellison [sic] ) at the Old Masters and at a lunch (49 Prince’s Gate, formerly [illegible] and now belonging to a certain nouveau riche, Leyland or Neyland. Whistler and decorator met me there , and showed and explained to us the glories of the peacock room – all gold and painted in blue by him, the tails and feathers of Juno’s bird. A curious frolick, but for a frolick well carried out.
12 Jan. – Arthur May came fr. town by 5 o’clock train & stayed here.
13 Jan. – May left by 3.40m train. As I walked with him to the station we met the Queen who went up by a special train to the Duchess of Cambridge.
18 Jan. – Called at 142 Bond Street at [illegible] shop, and my bust of Christ in marble, which has just come from Paris, placed there in a good light and much better than in last year’s Academy.
21 Jan. – To Paris.
23 Jan. – By river to the Point du Jour to see how my statue of the Queen is progressing. It is really very fine, the marble almost perfect. The only mark is down the side of the dress and little seen –another month’s work will see it I believe finished.
25 Jan. – I went at 4 with Madrassi to the commencement of the moulding of my Grenadier at a foundry at the top of the rue Saint Denis, at present only the sword is in bronze, but it is to be completed by the 20th of March.
26 Jan. - Passed the evening at the studio….. modelling with Madrassi the little statuette of the Salvator Mundi after the little painting by Bronzino.
29 Jan. – Passed most of the afternoon at the studio near the Point du Jour with the statue of my Queen. It is all I can do to take myself away from it. I only hope it may arrive scathless in London
30 Jan. – Call at 11.00 on Doré. He was at work on a Spanish picture, beggars about to mount a diligence. He showed me his secret sculpture gallery where Madrassi is working at a huge group supposed I believe to represent Love and Death, and also on a gigantic vase about 12 ft. high and covered with Bacchants and various subjects , but this will not be finished till the Exhibition here next year.
31 Jan. – Talked with Doré. His friend Mr Harford - a Canon of Westminster Abbey I believe – came in while we were feeding at the Café du Moulin Rouge. G.D. got wildly excited and swore in terrible language against the old masters- Raffael and M. Angelo were not spared.
2 Feb. – Left Paris
3 Feb. – Called on the French sculptress Malfe Dubray at 33 Ovingdon Square – a good studio with some good if not remarkable work. It was her mother, a respectable grey haired dame received me, and after some twenty minutes the daughter appeared and the mother at once vanished, rather unnecessarily I thought. The sculptress is decidedly handsome, but rather untidy, and wears too much ‘poudre de riz’ on her face. Neither found out that I was S’s brother.
25 Feb. – I went with him [Frank Miles] to see Burne Jones’s pictures in his house in Fulham. Full of wondrous colour and beautiful imagery but terribly out of drawing. Called after at the Eustace Smith’s, 52 Princes Gate – full of beautiful pictures, Watts’s and Leightons and decorated by the latter and Aithchison. Mrs E.S very civil and aff., a lady of great refinement.
3 March – I have bought a charming sketch of wild thorn on the Avon by Adrian Stokes who I was taken to see last Sunday by Frank Miles, a beautiful bit of colour and only £5!
18 March – To Paris. Supper at Café Roch [?] and looked up Packer.
19 March – Bkfstd with my American artist friend Stephen Packer…… he has got me to sit for my portrait and instead of going to look after my statues I spent the afternoon in his studio – 10 rue des Saints Pères. He is a very rapid worker and I hope 3 or 4 sittings will complete the job. Dined at the Restaurant Americain with ‘Jimmy’ Gallatin another American friend made during my last visit here.
20 March – Saw the completed Marie Antoinette and Grenadier – both really great successes.
22 March – I went with Archie Campbell to see Gustave Doré, whose studio was full of workmen packing his large group for the Salon. He has finished on the large cartoon, our Saviour in red descending the steps of the Judgement Hall – much like his Christ in London, but smaller. Dined with Gallatin.
23 March – Bkfstd with Doré at the Rest. Du Moulin Rouge close by his studio. He was distrait and taciturn, so much the former that he took nearly all the bottle of red wine we had between us himself. He is terribly ill-natured about other artists, especially the French, and will allow no-one to have any merit except himself.
24 March – My last sitting to Stephen Packer. He has painted a really very clever portrait and considering the little time he has given it has made a really successful performance – I intend sending it to the Academy. Dined with Jimmy Gallatin at the Restaurant Americain and met 2 friends of his, a Mr T [?] and an English youth Lonergan, finished at the Folies Bergères.
25 March – Left Paris. At Amiens met Oscar Wilde on his way to Rome.
28 March – A huge case containing the bronze statue of the Grenadier arrived from Paris. I sent it on to the Academy.
29 March – Sat for the 19th or 20th time to Arthur May but the portrait is still unfinished. Rather anxious at my statue of Marie Antoinette not having yet arrived from Paris.
31 March -= M.A. arrives at Burlington House.
2 April – Called on Mr Woolner (sculptor and ‘hanger’ of the sculptures in the Academy). He was very civil and will do his best to get my statues good places in the exhibition. What I most desire for them is a place where they can be seen from all sides, but I fear one or other of them will be against a wall. However, ‘espérons’. Called at Dalou’s in the afternoon. He shows [?] a fine group of a nursing mother & a bust (much flattered) of George Howard.
4 April – Saw M.A. unpacked – ‘Laus deo’ – I can now die content. I found Dalou (the French sculptor) there also superintending the unpacking of his terracotta group which he exhibits there.
7 April – To the Academy [something illegible here about Brucciani]. I had the very great happiness of seeing my two statues [something illegible] in the sculpture rooms. The Grenadier looks especially well, and will I think make some effect. It is a splendid bit of bronze in tone and colour.
19 April – With [illegible, but looks as if it could be an abbreviation for Constance, his siser] had tea in my newly decorated sitting room which she was pleased to admire with its new tall wooden chimneypiece with the blue and white tiles and Tinworth plaques let in.
21 April - To Paris.
22 April – Mr Thibaudeau called for me about 9 and took me to Mons de Goncourt, author of the best life of Marie Antoinette and some excellent works on French art. His little villa full of art treasures, prints, drawings, Japanese ceramics, bronzes, etc. A small garden but full of rare and beautiful plants. We breakfasted with him & left at 1.30 having spent a delightful morning. Dined with Gallatin.
24 April – Called in rue Candolle on Luca Madrassi, hard at work on his sculpture as usual.
25 April – Left Paris by the 1.20 train, Gallatin coming by the same train. Arr in London at 11pm. Robert [Tuffs?] at the station and W. Lloyd, a friend of Gallatin there also. Went on to a ball at Dudley House.
27 April – Met both Millais and Leighton in Piccadilly yesterday and both are very complimentary about my two statues in the Academy, as also is Lorne who could only find such defects as one foot being bigger than the other of the Grenadier’s and the inscription on the base ‘too large’! If the critics criticise no more than this I shall have much reason to be satisfied.
28 April – I spent all morning in the new Grosvenor Gallery in Bond St., a private view for ‘The Gentlemen of the Press’ [something illegible] about twenty there including Sir Coutts Lindsay. On the whole I was disappointed with the collection gathered in this much vaunted exhibition. Many are bad and very few good and none excellent. Millais portraits of the 3 Grosvenor girls & me [?] look well, but they are on a terribly vivid ground .
29 April – With Harry to Windsor. On returning here found Gallatin had come from town and with him Lloyd. They two slept here, Lloyd occupying my room for I have a spare bedroom at the top of the house, and can thus put up two guests at a time ……. H. Smith had to return home after dinner. I went with him to the station. He is quite the pleasantest fellow I have ever known and I only regret that circumstances prevent me from seeing him oftener.
4 May – Private View at the R.A.. Went with Harry Smith. Queen “I hear Watts also admires it much”. I intend if all is well sending it to the Paris Xtion next year and placing it in the vestibule of the English Court.
9 May – Visited Grosvenor Gallery and Academy galleries. Wrote notes on the R.A.. for Vanity Fair signed ‘Megilp’. Only got through the first two rooms so there will be more ‘Megilp’to follow.
10 May – Called on Sugden [?] in his chambers in Pall Mall. He wished me to see the work of a young sculptor of the name of [Drury??] who is making his bust and also competing for the Byron Memorial.
8 June – Left for Paris. Expected to find Gallatin and Farmer at the station, but they only followed by the night train.
9 June – [Having taken a room in a hotel he then changed over to Gallatin’s place in the ave. Montaigne. When G. and Bill Farmer arrived they insisted he accompany them to the Longchamps races, “much as races bore me”]
10 June – [refers to a visit to the Salon in preparation for an article in Vanity Fair]
12 June - [Returned to England because incapacitated by the heat in Paris] |