The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1881-09-29
Painting Daniel Websier,s Portrait

Webster, said Mr.. Healy, the celebrated
American portrait painter, was an excessively
bad sitter. had been commissioned 10
paint his portrait for King Louis Philippe
and for Lord Ashburlon rs we'll as to pie
pare portrait which is now in the state
department at Washington. On
the first evening AFTER my
arrival at his house in Msrs1f4ld
the subject Of the painting was approached
only in the conversation after dinner. The
great man inquired how many sit.ings should
! want and now much time no should give
1 WAS much impressed by his ponder
Ouse voics and his grand manners, 80
answered modeatly, six aiLlings of two
d nrs each 1 can't give EN- said Mr..
Webster, in his deepest voice. / reilece1 II
moment and then answered: 1t is very we'll
TO know thar, for | shall now be able TO
return to Boston in the fore noon Of to-mor-
row. How 10 thalF he said. | stated that
my invsriable rule WAC TO have six sitting,
that as | had three portraits to finish l
could not undertake to do tue work unless
be would be kind enough TO comply with
my conditions. | could not, | said, agree
20 give q faithful resemblance of yourself TO
Lord Ashburton and to the king without six
sittings. He seemed amazed at my presump-
ton, but finally he said; Very well; will
do the best can A lady who was present
subsequently remarked to mo that she had
never heard any one speak.in that way 10 Mr..
Webster before. | am proud of you, Bhe
said. He proved n kindly though difficult
sitter. After he had risen from one Of the Sit
tings he placed his hand on my shoulder aud
accompanied mo 10 the door MI Hesly,
said no. and his voice seemed to shake the
threshold OF the door, do you SEQ tho brow of
yonder hill? Go there with the telescope
which you see hanging in the hall, put ii 10
your little eye, and when you come back
tell mo il in Europe there IS such an
enchanting spectacle. No splen.
did subject, bad sitter -impstient--such was
Mr.. Websterl AT II little later period, be
added, was IN Washington making n
study Of Mr., Webster's head for picture OF
him "a hc appeared when replying TO Hayne
In 1880. MIR. Webster, who wss often
weighed down with public duties, man
aged To give US m occasional morning.
A French artist friend of mine, q diminutve
but very agreeable person named Du B0ur-
ial, was admitted Mt the Same time with my
self to make studies for an aquSrele, One
morning after hsd i1shed my details of
the fee and wac to p II tho garments and
5lme small matters oLaecied with the states
mans general appearance, MIR Webster ar
rlyed 10 very bad humor. | mado the miss
take Of trying to talk him out of II, but tho
little Frenchmsn, who had wholesome fear
of Tho great man, eyed me with terror. /
soon found tina, Mr. WebUor was not in,
clined to respond to cheerful talk, aud
preteaIly be said, in voice like rum ding
thunder:
What are you painting this morning, Mr..
nesly?
am painting the dro's, sir.
Then why do you wish me 20 talk! he
said very grsyely. | accepted the reprooi
tud meeGly attended 10 my duties, the little
Frcnchman doing his work in Hilenco and
after we had Anshod Mr. Webster arose, wen,
over to De Bouti 81 took him by the hand
and said: C,ue and see ne tonight aud
take dish Of tea Ha then glered a. me
for momont % IL hesitsiing whether or not
TO invile mo--snd bring your friend Mr.
Healy with with you--he added. Ho then
stalked out Enthusiastically and the little French.
m'n said; Do you know what though,
when he turned to you just nowl Though,
no was going TO take mo by the legs and
beat your brains out With me.