Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-03-28

n.NkIINNHM ENIANNN ~ = EMAuANNa
Here is an extract frUm Thackefsys last
novel;
We sscepd to the room on the first floor,
where the center window has been hight.
ened 80 as TO afford an upper light and un-
der that stream of radiance we behold the
head of an old friend, JUS. Ridley, the r.
| Academician. Time has somewhat thinned
his copious locks, and p~rematurely streaked
the head with silver. His face Is rather
wep; the eager, sensitive hand which poises
brush and pallet, and quivers over the pic
tute, is very thin round his eyes are many
lines Of Lhealth, and, perhaps, care, but
the eyes are as bright as ever, and when
they look at the canvas, or the model which
he transfers to it, clear and keen, and happy.
He has a very sweet singing voice, and war
bles az his work, or whistles OF Il smiling.
He sets his hand little feats of skiil 10 peT-
form, and smiles with a boyish pless ire al
his matchless de1terity.
/ have seed him with an old pewter mus
tard' pot for a model, fashion a splendid
silver fagon In one of his pictures; paint
the hair of an animal, the folds and flowers
of a bit of brocade, and 20 forth, with a per-
feet delight in the work he was performing;
a delight lasting from morning till sun.
down, during which time he was too busy
10 touch the biscuit and glass of water which
was prepared for his frugal luncheon. He is
greedy of the last minute of light, and never
can be got from his darling pictures without
a regret. To be a painter, aud to have your
hard in perfect command, / hold to be one
oflite's su71nd Donna. The happy mixture OF
hand and head-work, must render the occu-
patton supremely pleasant.
In the days work must occur endless de-
lightful difficulties and occasion for skill.
Over the details Of that armor, that drapery,
or what not, the sparkle of that eye, the
dOwny blush of that cheek, the jewel on
that neck, there are battles to be fought and
victories to be won. Each day there must
occur critical moments of supreme struggle
and triumph, when struggle and victory
must be both invigoratiDg and exquisitely
p~leasiDg-as a burst across country is to q
fine rider perfectly mounted, who knows
that his courage and his horse will never fail
him. There is the excitement of the game
and the gallant delight in winningit.
Of thiss sort Of admirable reward for their
labor, no men, | think, have q greater share
than painters perhaps a violin-player per-
fectly and t~riumphantly performing his own
beautiful composition may be equally
hsppy.) Here is occupation here is excite
ment-here is struggle and victory-aud
here is profit. Can man ask more from for
tune2 Dukes and Rothschilds may be envi-
Gus of such a man.
Though Ridley had his trials and troubles,
as we shall presently learn, his art has mas-
tered them all. Black care may have sat in
crupper on that Pegasus, but has never un .
horsed the rider. In certain minds art is
dominant and superior to all besides
stronger than love, stronger than hate, or
care, or penury. As soon as the fever leaves
the band free it is Selling and fondling the
pencil. Love may frown and be false, but
the other mistress never will. She is always
true, always new, always the friend, COM
panioD, inestimable consider.
So John James Ridley sat at his easel from
breakfast to shutdown, and never left his
work quite willingly. | wonder are men of
other trades so enamored of theirs whether
lawyers cling to the last to their darling re-
ports; or writers prefer their desks and ink
stands to society, to friendship, to dear
idlenessP l have seen no men in life loving
their profession SO much as painters, except,
perhaps, actors, who, when not engaged
themselves, always go to the play.