FREDERICK GOODALL, R.A.
• The Reminiscences of Frederick Goodall, R.A. (Walter Scott Pub- hauling Company. 12s.)—This is a very pleasant and kindly book. The world has behaved sbnievehat capriciously to Mr. Goodall, but' Goodall thinke well of the world. He has had liberal patrons, and he III grateful for their help ; he has had many friends, and he reciprocates their affection ; he has had his meed of praise, and he is liberal in his praise of others. There is not a syllable of jealousy or detraction from the beginning of this volume to the end. Mr. Goodall did not have to wait for appreciation of his good work ; his heart was not made sick by hope deferred. On the contrary, he had that early success which makes an unkindly nature arrogant, a sweet one doubly sweet. At twelve he sold for two guineas each two water-colour sketches, one of which had been distinguished by a medal ; at thirteen he had a commission for six drawings in water-colour of the Thames Tunnel at the same rate; at fourteen an oil- colour, "Finding the Dead Body of a Miner in the Thames Tunnel," earned a silver medal of the Society of Arts and ten guineas. In fact, he seems to have earned more than £2,000 by the time that he was twenty-two. This was in 1844, and he had a picture in the Royal Academy Exhibi- tion of last year. Among the prominent figures of his early days are Rogers, the poet, and Turner. Rogers was always kind ; Turner, whose pictures were engraved by Mr. Goodall's father, a curious mixture of meanness and generosity. In his patrons he was especially fortunate. Sir Robert Peel was one of them; Mr. Vernon another. The latter bought one of his pictures for £525 in the year of his death. In later years we find the well-known names of Lucas, Blackwell, and Wightinan. In 1832 he was elected A.R.A., and R.A. eleven years afterwards. These honours have not often been gained so early. Good stories are, of course, plentiful, though giving touches of character rather than humorous effects. Turner was never satisfied unless he had neutralised, to say the least, any picture that was hung near his own. On one occasion he had a grey picture that was in complete harmony with one of Constable's close by. He painted in a red sun. "He has fired his shot," said Constable. (It is only fair to say that stories of exactly the opposite bearing are told of him. Once he daubed over a particularly brilliant picture which "killed" a neighbour. "It will wash off," he said.) There are anecdotee of the "Hanging Committee." On one occasion a little picture was handed round, and unanimously approved. Mr. Alma Tadema was heard to give a sigh of relief. "I am so glad," he said, "it is by my wife." F. R. Lee tells a story of how, as he was painting near R,edleaf, a little boy came day after day to look on. At last he said: "I have saved up fourpence, and I would not mind giving it for that pic- ture of yours." Here is a criticism of David Wilkie on one of Sbanfield's pictures, a Swiss lake scene: "Wool, it wants dirrt ; it's ewer clean." David Roberts was no Preraphaelite. "It is," he said, "to me a maist melancholy thing to see a. young artist fancying he is makin' himself a penter by sitting for sax months in front o' a grozet (gooseberry) buss."
Previous page
