Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-10-06
An INTERESTING PORTRAIT.
How Artist Fisher Painted Samuel
III. Miller.
n.vnchburg Newe.l


Some time after the death Of Samuel
ii. Miller, the founder OF the Lynchburg
Female Orphan Asylum. the Board of
Trustees decided to secure the services
Of Mr.. +. J. Fisher. the well-known artist.
In providing for the institution
portrait Of It's benefactor. Two thousand
dollars was the sum agreed upon, ana
Mr.. Fisher was given carte blanche 10
do as he pleased in carrying out the con-
tract.
Such questions as Mr.. Fisher had TO
solve rarely confront an artist, ana the
task which he had undertaken was one
OF a most delicate and troublesome char-
acter. In the first place, there was
no photograph or picture OF any KIM
by which a comprehension OF Mr.. Miller
features could be obtained, ana MI.
Fisher had seen Mr.. Miller only three
times. and that was in the summer OF
1869. when Mr.. Miller had sent Tor MN
10 ask him about painting a picture Oh
the landscape lying in front OF MS d"eiI-
ing The memory which, after seven
wears. he retained of Mr.. Miller iaVe'
and the suggestions and ADVICE oi tho'o
who had known Mr.. Miller weil' were .n0
only guides which Mr. Fisher had III ac
comprising his difficult task. however,
no was not 10 be discouraged, anu ne Se'
TO work vigorously and patiently. -.
Mr.. Fisher had in his nina the ia.,n
of three old men, and he was constantly
harrassed to decide as to wnich one De
inn,,ed 70 the man whose likeness ne
vas ia naint. Constant toll and minute
care gradually developed the race as ne
conceived II. The eyes, the cheeks the
shane of the forehead, the expression the
color and thickness of the hair, anu d
thousand and one little details all hdu
10 be watched with an eye TO the gene
raj effect No one but an artist can APP
preciate the illimitable ana tremendous
score of such labor. The portrait was
TO be of life-size.
Finally. the pencil sketch was com
Melted. and DR.. j. j. Terrell, at whose
house Mr.. Fisher was stopping at the
time. declared that the picture was won
derfully true to the original, ana was
in every particular an exact ana lalthiu'
likeness. In order that there might De ho
mistake, many persons VINO had kilo"ii
Mfr. Miller were called In to pass upon
the portrait Every one OF them asreeu
with DR.. Terrell. -,
To make dOubly sure, 1t was decided
IN send for an old darby, who had peeh
Mr. Miller's family servant ana VINO
| had known him longer and better ana
more intimately than anybody else. ne
negro was told nothing In regard TO me
picture. but was informed that Dr. IerIeii
wanted TO see him on business Inc
| old man entered the room in Which the
picture had been placed. Mr.. Fisher was
| nresent. but nothing was said. The negro
| took his seat. and some one went 10 tel
| DIR. Terrell that the man had arrived
After a moment or two, the darky De-
| gan looking around. Suddenly. MS eyes
| came in line with the lfe-sized portrait
| "Old Masterr' he exclaimed. in evident
satisfaction, throwing his hands up over
| his head. u.fo,,,,d
| This simple expression was proiouho
| tribute to Mr.. Fishers skill, ana All We,.
| convinced that a more faithful por'rai'
| could not have been secured.
| When the picture had been nearly com
Melted the coffin in which Mr.. Miller nae
been buried was opened. and Mr.. Fisher
cave the head an examination TO see II
he had the general proportions oil ut
| head correct. He found that his measure
nents had been exact. and that the pro
nor tint Of gray had been given 10 'h'
| hair. ..o,. u.os don,