The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-12-08
GAINSBOROUGH'S LIFE
THE FAMOUS ENGLISH ARTIST MADE
A LAUGHING JEST OF DEATH.
Displeascd mt His Portrait OF n Beau
tiful Duchess He Spoiled IL with
One Dash Of His brush.


New York Mercury.
One Of the most eminent names In British
art is that OF Thomas Gainsborough. He
was born In Suffolk. England, in I727, and
died in London, Aug. 2 17SS, in his sixty
first year. He had handsome face and
easy, persuasive manners. He painted por-
traits. but was most distinguished as a
landscape painter. Says critic: Nature
sat TO him IN all her attractive attributes
OF beauty, and his pencil traced with Pc
cuiIar and matches facility her finest and
most delicate lineaments, whether it was
the sturdy oak. the twisted Byzantine, the
mower wnetting his scythe. the whistling
plow boy. or the shepherd under the haw-
thorn in the dale-all came forth equally
chaste from his inimltable and fanciful
pencil
He painted a portrait OF the beautiful
Duchess OF Devonshire. but it was so little
TO bis satisfaction that he refused to send II
to Chatsworth. Her dazzling beauty and
gay conversation took away, for the time,
the readiness OF his hand and the hasty
happiness OF his touch. Drawing his wet
It thought exquisitely lovely. he said: Her
Grace Is too hard FOR me- The portrait Is
supposed 10 have been destroyed.
A certain lord Cnce came TO sit for por-
trait. He had put on new suit Of clothes
with a well-powdered wig. He took his
seat with a practiced look OF such impor
lance and prettiness that Gainesborough be-
gan to laugh and was heard TO mutter,
This win never do"
Now. sir" said the lord. II beg you win
not overlook the dimple on my chin" Con
found the dimple on your chin replied the
artist. II shall neither paint the one nor
the other" He at once laid down bis
brushes and refuse. to resume them. he
was not a hatterer with either his tongue or
his PENCIL.
HIS LOVE FOR MUSIC.
He had a love for music. but, while he
possessed ear. taste and genius, he d.d not
have application enough to learn his notes
He filed his house with all kinds of musi-
cal instruments. Having noticed a therbo in
a painting he determined to possess one. He
assembled TO the garnet OF a German pro-
fessor. who was found dining on roasted ap-
pies and smoking his pipe with his therbo
beside him. II am come" said Gainsbor-
ough. ITO buy you lute-name your price
and here's your money"
Il can't sell my lutte" replied the pro-
Iessor- mo. not for a guinea or two? But
you must sell IT,. tell you" MY lutte Is
cas-" FAY. that ii is: see. here's re si tbe
money"
So saying, Gainsborough took up the in
half way down the stairs and the returned
II have done but half my Grand" ne said |:
what Is your lutte worth II have not your
oughY' aswhy. the book OF airs vo. '1 have
composed for the lutte" "Ah. sir I can
never part with my book" Pooh. you can
I mean-there's ten grineas for it-so once
more. good day" He went down few
steps. when he returned again. what Is
stand it?' he asked. "and your lutte. YOU
nay take L again IL you won't teach me
70 play on i. Come home with me and give
:! viii come tomorrow"
You must come now"
II must dress myself
have seen to-day"
II must shave, sir"
honor your beard"
must, however. put on my wig"
Damn your wig: your cap and beard be-
come YOU DO you think IL Vandyke was
amt you he'd let you be shaved?''
poor German professor to teach him the
lutte. DE admitted to his table professors
Oh All kinds OF instruments. except bagpipes.
ECCENTRIC GENEROSITY.
Once when a gentleman played very
nneiy Gainsborough excitedly exclaimed:
GO on. and will give you the picture of
The Boy at the Stile," which you so often
wished to purchase from me-" The gentle
man proceeded. while the painter stood in
speechless admiration, with tears of rap
eo1S oii MS Cheeks AT the end OF the music
the gentleman called a coach and carried
away the picture
Sir George Beaumont. Sheridan and
Gainsboroueh were 10 dine together on a
certain occasion. says another They met
out cloud had descended upon the spirff
OF Gainsborough. and he sat silent. with
look OF fixed melancholy which no wit
could dissipate- At length he took Sheridan
Dy the hand and led him out OF the room
and said, Now. don't you laugh, but listen
4 snail die soon I know it have less
time to live than my looks INTERRUPT for
this care not. What Expresses nv mind
- tnls-l have many acquaintance and few
friends, and 1 wish to have one worthy
man TO accompany me to the grave. / am
oeslrous or bespeaking you Will you come
lay or noz Sheridan could scarcely re-
press smile as he made the required
promise. The looks OF Gainsboroueh
cheered up like the sunshine In one OF hts
own landscapes Throughout the rest OF the
evening bis wit flowed and his hurnor ran
over and the minutes. like those OF the
poet, mingled their way with pleasure
In view CT this incident Il was singular
that about a year later Gainsborough went
ings, IN which Sheridan took such An i'm
portant part when he suddenly fell n
peculiar sensation in his neck This proved
the cancer Of which he died He prepared
himself for death with cheerfuIness and
composure. He remarked to Sir Joshua
Reynolds: We are all going to heaven
and Vandyke Is OF the company" and i'm
mediately expired Sheridan was faithful IN
his promise and followed his lamented and
talented friend to the grave.