Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1872-04-12
SIR JOSHUA REYNOLDS.

At No. AZ Leicester Square, London, on the
vest side (from l76l to his death in 1922,
lived Sir Joshua Re ynolds. The great paint
er led methodical life he rose carly break
tasted at nine. entered his studio at ten, ex-
amined designs, or touched unfinished por-
traits till eleven, when the knocker began to
rcsouni and titled people to rustic in; he
/ painted till four then dressed, and gave the
evening to society.
His beaming spectacles and his ear trum-
/ pet were to be seen often at the club and
theatre of those days, and the owner of them
was always welcome. DR.. johnson, Gold
/ smith, Walpole, Banks, Sternc, GibbOn, al
most every one celebrated in those days,
/ knocked OF the door of No. -.
/ Reynolds pleasant dinner parties seem to
/ have partaken somewhat Of the picnic char
acter-never knives ar glasses enough, bad
waiting but good talk. Every one scrambles
| for himself, and johnson eats It'll the veins
swell out on his forehead; Goldsmith sug-
| gcsts a reply to an aXio . of JohnsOn's and is
stared at 10y Boswell; Gibbon talks with
learned dignity, and Barke is more eloquent
even than usual. Reynolds had his yexations
here, too, when Barry's morOseness vexed
him, and when grand people returned por-
traits as bad likenesses, or complained Of the
color fading. Here he chaied to think Of
| young Lawrence setting up in opposition in
the same square, OF lTetted at the preference
some people had for Romney. With well
bred si;ters he was polite and amiable; but
when a rich citizen told him once that the
pattern OF bis lace rullles was 0bscurey made
)ut, Sir Joshua replied hastily:
THAT is my manner, sir-that is my
manner. And when q vain lady displayed
her taper hands, he said calmly MADAM,
| commonly paint my hands from my scr
wants.
Han that busy yet tranquil life of Sir
Joshua passed At NJ. n, tIll at last came
that sad afternoon, when. finding himself
growing blind. he laid down lis brush. and
said mounlully II know that all things on
earth must come TO an end, and now | am
come to mine.
Nor DO we often visit Leiscster Square
without thinking Of the affecting story Of
Rynolds. almost blind, wandering round the
rails, seeking for a pet canary of his that had
-trayei.
uOGARTu.
locsrth lived at the east side Of the square,
nearly at the south end Ia his time. a cork
gilt head stood over the door There the
little man, with the full round forehead and
the firm mouth, paintcia all his great pictures,
and there, in dreams, the hidcJgs idle
Apprentice and the handsome good one,
the "kakc, the hangmen, the maimen, the
thieves, and all the old people whom he
painted visited him.
From this spot llo.arth sailed to see the
Rake married to the lich old maid at
Marylebone Church, and 70 the Adam and
Eve to see the "Guaris' stagger by 70
Fiuchley From here he set ont on his walk
20 the quiet New River ami % Southwark
Fair. with all It's noise and merry clamor
From Cogent Garden brawls. carefully noted
by him, and from executions AZ Tyburn,
Hogarth returned o. this square. to think
over his pictures.
Ii is difficult t. imagine that such night
mare figures rs Tom Idle and the wrct.hcso
Gin Lane did not perpetuallv haunt tho
painter; but we suppose be exlreizsd them
hy thoughts u the pleasant faces be could
paint when be liked The pretty actress
the ru.ti Is were staring NJ in the Southwark
fair. the compassionate girl who saves the /.
Rake from arrest. are specimens oC H1sart in F.
bis happier and more innocent moods His F.
terrible power of satire. bis honest hatred Of
what is evil, enable Hsao-th % brand more F.
rascals than even Pope yet without the
poets personal malice.
la Leicester Square Ills great sltirist f.
spent his busy middle life, close % where. in
youth, he had been apprenticed to Gamble .
the slycr-smith. lie had worked hard be-
fore be drew that last sketch, which be
called the "E-d oi All thirg-' adding 70 q .
series ef worn-5ut and broken things a -d.t-