The Benton weekly record. [volume] (Benton, Mont.) 1880-1885, 1880-07-23
Amecdote of ys5IIli:.rsa w. 4aana.

One of the most Characteristic ef Will
liam NJ. Hunts '',Taiks on Art was this
one: Now, tloll't think that when say
want to paint that boy in one day. count
il only one days work. For weeks
have considered it, have prepared differ
el1t groltndS-four, ccrtainly-hafr experi~
nienttd on similar grounds. to know
which is:jll be Best. I've thought Of il
day and night awakiliS Il tjt"er o'cloct
in the morning with the thought df III
whether | can get him vigorous enough
against certain background. So I keep
this picture in my mind until feel that
/ can strike tie color here, thcre-can
make this dark enough that light enough.
Then when tie til!1e comes, | must be
ready 10 paint and | tel! you it is no joke
to paint a portrait. L wonder that | am
not more si:fiid when | begin. | feel al
most certain that / can la H. It seems
very simple. | don't think of the tiif1e
that is sure to come, when almost des-
pair, when the whole thing seems hope
less. Into the painting OF every picture
that is wo@tt, any thing there comes some
time this period Of despair. y
A pecuIiarity of sIf. lft1nt ;;s al artist
was that he could not paint the portrait of
q sitter with whom lie did not feel in
sympathy. OF course be was not under
the sNat Of fuancial considerations, as
hiattv Artists rn nto1t, or less compelled to
be; his flthe1i left ttius W.eaEthy5 and he
never licked money. Yet, had lie been
poor, he would never have painted for
money. Some people he could not paint
ut all--.ic simply declined TO make the
attempt. D:H day an order came for
portrait ota former principal of Phillips
Academy from 4 miniature which had
been sent for tile purpose. ats no use,
he exclaimed. after looking at the picture
sits no Use: can't DO il. Soon after
ware! il i,stt:.f. arrived III which was de-
scriset ti,t: most admirable character of
tie Iti,ti. ~ falloN: like that. he ts=
rI:ii.leI. after re:ttlii.9 it; observes his
portrait printed. / III, Huins to do it,,
One OF Ills pttpils asked him onces .sNc culd
you Isiint A.r. u, If coald persuade
| him 10 Sit tar lis portrait? Hunt )
prompt answer was. Il don1t like pers'Ad-
Cd sitters: | never could paint Il cat if the
.,st had any scruples, religious, snpefSti-
tiots, Of otherwise. about sitting.
/ Sometimes he required six OF eight sit=
! tinas FOR Il portrait; 1T other times fifteen,
for even twenty, He almost always ft:td
ia cigar III his mouth while painting
though it was net always lighted, tfte1
tile second or third sitting he became SC
enarosSea in the work as TO be ohliyions q
| every surrounding Though social ait
chatty at tic beginning Ct the task, by
became sils.ut. sllleommitnicative, absorb.
ed Nv hat Try to represents be one,
4 said to Mr.. Carter. is what no one ca
4 sec. and that Is the soul OF Il man. :, Will
this purpose in view, his habit was, i
possible, 10 visit the sitter at the latter
home or place OF business. to put hlmsel
zparfeefly en- rapport witt, him, 70 faini
4 i;lrize aimscif with the innermost Thought
E=of his heart. At the end Of the work n
5I=;tiwaqs seemed to b. exhausted, as # TT
vital essefssics ll;ssI bess:ltIraWn OUT Of him
but during The process itself his lletElot
knew 10 Ianguor, bit was of heat an
I flame. When the picture pleased him Il
q manifested bis pleasure q naiEeif ;ts
child would. lie would compliment "
q performance most. .1Hlreseryesllx.
YET III liked every other kind of snb
ies.ts better than portraits: and Woua
!: never have painted the latter had th
public appreciated bis iileal figures On y
| return from Europe in 1851. The er
. was for portraits. and portraitts he 5gaG w
them, ii spite Of his ltyiafion that sae
q work W:ss too small for him after h
return Il seearsfit,si ot the -isselt
biz Isaa1I3er Ia esstsE;sflas;sts, With gre:
#ens ,,ss.tsis, rope ssfais glssys.ss. 81
sszs#i y. 8 fits= ne.
.#sitsv;s1.Is ssle
nan sfEEsa foolish g, e Niff
NIL Mi ian kInd words 81
i II tss s. 20 ssls,ftftis " I
IL IL lit women st,lllt lnles 80 wrong