The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-11-03
I HE DAILY DISPATCH
THE POsTHUMOUs PORTRAIT.
AN ARTISTS SKETCH.

AN ARTISTS SKETCH.
A country town IS not very hopeful arena
tor the exercise OF the portrait painters art
Supposing an artist to acquire local cele.
briIy in such region, he may paint the faces
of one generation, and then, haply finding a
casual Job once year or so, may sit down a nd
count the hours till another generation rises up
and supplies him witn.a second run of work.
In measure, the portrait painter must be a
rolling stone, or he will gather no moss. So
thought Mr.. Conrad Merlus, as he packed up
his property, and prepared to take himself off
from the town of C, in Wiltshire, to seek
fresh fields and pastures new, when the sun
might be disposed to shine upon portrait paint
ing, and where he might manage to make hay
the while. Conrad was a native of c.. In
that congenial spot he had first pursued the
study OF his art cheered by the praises of the
good folks around him. and supported by their
demands upon his talents. While, in a GER
tain fashion, he had kept the spirit of art alive
in the place, the spirit of alt in return, had KEEP,
him alive. Bat now all the work was done
tor long time to come; every family had its
great portraits, and would want him no more
yet awhile; and Conrad saw, that if he could
not turn his hand 10 something else, and, in
place of pencils and brushes, work with last,
spade, needle, or quill, make shoes, coats, till
the ground, or cast up accounts, he should
shortly be hardly put to it to keep himself 60
ing. He had made and saved pretty tolera.
Bile little purse during his short season of pat
ronage, and determined to turn that to account
IN seeking. in other places, a continuation of
commissions. His father and mother were
both dead, and so ia! as he knew, he had no
near relative alive. Therefore, there were no
ties, save those of association, TO bind him to
his native place. "No ties," sighed Conrad,
mo ties at ail.''
1t was Monday evening, and the next day,
Tuesday, was to behold his departure. His
rent was paid, his traps were all packed up in
readiness, and he had nothing to think about,
saving whittier he should proceed. He walked
oal, for the last time, into the little garden be-
hind the modest house in which he had dwelt.
pensive and somewhat triste; for one cannot,
without sOrrowful emotions of some Sort leave.
perhaps for ever, spot in which the stream of
life has flowed peacefully and pleasantly for
many years, and where many little enjoyments,
successes, and trumphs have been experience
ed. Even Crusoe cannot depart from his
desolate island without pang, although he
goes, after years of miserable solitude, to reoin
the human family.
1t was the month Of August, and the glory
OF the summer was becoming me:lOwed and
sofensd. The nights were gradually growing
longer and the days shorter, the reapers " ere
in the harvest fields, the woods and groves
were beginning TO show the autumn tint, the
sun sank behind the hills earlier and earlier
dav by day, and the broad harvest moon
reigned throughout the sweet and fragrant
nights. Conrad felt the influence of the sea-
son, and, though he had for some time con-
templated the departure fom his home with
all the cheetulness which the spirit Of adven-
ture lmparts 10 young men, he now, as the
time arrived, felt inclined to weep over the
separation. He was indulging in nreveries of a
mourntul complexion, when he observed his
landlady leave the house, and, entering the
garden, hustle towards him in great hurry
Assured by the manner of the worthy old lady
that he was wanted, and urgently, by some
one or other, he rose from the rustic seat on
which he had been sitting, and went to meet
her. A gentleman had called to see him in
phaeton, and was waiting in the parlor in
state of impatience and excitement which Mrs
Farrell had never seen the like of. Wonder
ing who the visitor could be, Conrad hastened
into the parlor. He found there an elderly in
dividual of gentemanly appearance, who was
walking to and fro restlessy, and whose
countenance and demeanOr bore affecting e,i
dences of agitation and sorrow. He approach
ed Conrad quickly.
"You are a portrai; painter, Mr.. Mer-
lus?"
"Yes, SIR
"The only one, believe, in this neighbor-
hood 7"
"Yes."
81 am anxious" continued the gentleman,
speaking in a low tone, and with tremulous
earnesiness that rendered his speech peculiarly
emphatic-"I am anxious to have painted the
portrait of one who is-who was-Very dear to
me-immediately, for a few hours may make
such performance impossible. May | beg
that you will submit TO some sacrifice OF con-
yenience-that You will be good enough TO
set aside your arrangements for day or two
to execute this work! Do so, and you shall
find that you have lost nothing"
"WithOut entertaining any consideration OF
that sort, sir,'' answered Conrad, deeply touch
ed by the manner o: his visitor, hich betoken-
ed recent and heavy affection, ''my best ablI-
ties, such as they are, are Immediately at your
service"
MANY thanks" answered the gentleman,
pressing his hand warmly. "Had you declin-
ed, know not what should have done; for
there is no other Of the profession IN TINS
neighborhood, and there is no time 10 seek
further. Come for heavens sake, let US has
ten"
Conrad Immediately gave the necessary init
nation to his landlady; his easel, pallet, and
painting box were quickly placed in the phae.
ton: the gentleman and himself took thei
places inide; and the coachman drove of at as
great a pace as pair of good horses could
command.
Twill gh, was deepening into the dusk when,
after silent and rapid ride OF some ten miles,
the phaeton stopped before the gates OF park
like demesue. The coachman shouted when
a lad, who appeared to have been waiting near
the spot, ran and opened the gates, and they
ras,nod tbe;r way through beautiful drive
-ihe carefully kept sward, the venerable trees.
and the light and elegan, ha.has on either side,
tes tifying that they were within the boundaries
of an estate of some pretensions. Hall mile
brought them TO the portal Of sombre and ye-
nerable mansion, which rose up darkly and
meiesticaIly in front OF an extensive plantation
of forest-like appearance. Facing il was
large, level lawn, having in the centre the pc.
destal and the sun-dial so frequently found in
slch situations.
A footman in livery came forth, and taking
Conrad's easel and apparatus carried them in
to the house. The young artist, who had al
ways lived and moved among humble people,