Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1913-09-03


Beckwith went on with the work he
was doing.
what's your price for a portrait of
that sizeg" asked Goodwin
The size doesn't make any differ
ence as to the prize
We'll. what viii you charge to paint
my portrait? don't want 1t myself,
but my family do. II 1T doesn't cost
too much III humor them.r
Five hundred dollars"
Five hundred dollars! How many
portraits can you paint In yearg'
"a dozen perhaps"
That's $4,000 for sitting here daub-
ing paint Why. don't pay any one
OF my heads OF departments in my
business hals that. and they're all first
class business men,
To this the artist made no reply.
IF you'll paint my portrait that size,
painting. frame and all, for $3.50. it's
a 60"
Five hundred is my price"
Goodwin spent some time trying to
obtain reduction. Finally 1t occurred
to him that. after all, perhaps. he would
not need to pay anything till the por-
trait was finished and the artist, hay
ing expended his time on 1t, would
then probably take less for 1t rather
than have II on his hands.
You'll want your money, suppose"
he said. ION delivery of the goods"
YES"
"very well: so ahead"
Beckwith arranged with his subject
for the sittings. and Goodwin departed
While the man OF business was plan
ming to beat the artist. the artist was
planning to beat the man Of business.
But Goodwin was In this respect In his
element. while Beckwith was not.
Though during the sittings that follow
ed be racked bis brain for some plan
by which he might get his revenge for
that past injustice which still ranked
within him. his inventive powers failed
him. One thing he resolved upon-he
would paint the best portrait Of his
subject that he was capable OF paint
ing.
The features are expressive OF the
character. and Goldwins features were
no exception to the rule. Beckwith
while painting drew bis subject away
from his covetousness by chatting with
him on other subjects and thus caught
his best expression. When the portrait
was finished the man 1t represented
seemed TO live. One would suppose be
was about to speak. aud speak pleas
antly. Goodwin told the artist to send
the portrait to his house. but Beckwith
preferred to keep 1t till he got his
money and frankly told Goodwin that
II he would send for 1t with check
for $500 It would be delivered to the
messenger. Goodwin grumbled at this
and went away.
The next day Beckwith received a
note from bis client stating that the
portrait did not come up to his expecta
tons and he had concluded not to ac-
cept II. Beckwith made no reply to the
note and In time received another stat
Ing that since Goodwin preferred TO pay
for the time spent on the portrait he
$3.50 To this also Beck with paid Nc
attention. but sent the picture to a
dealer for sale.
One day Goodwin was informed that
his portrait was hanging In an art
store; that II was being visited by con.
noisseurs and pronounced remarkable
piece of work. 1t had not yet been
sold. for the artist had set very high
price on IT, Goodwin at once went tC
the store. saw his portrait and asked
the dealer the price for 1t. He was In
formed that 1t was $4,000. Goodwin
went at once to an attorney. whom he
directed to take steps to claim the por
trait as his property. But when the
lawyer called for the correspondence
In the case and read copies of his eli
ent's letters to Beck with he said he had
no case.
Goodwin found himself in an unpleas-
ant position. His portrait-pronounced
a work of art-was for sale. and per
sons were asking why he did not buy
II. To do so would cost him $500
more than the price he would have
paid had be accepted 1t. He sent an
agent to Beckwith to try to effect
compromise. The agent returned with
a statement from the artist that the
painting was making great reputa-
ton for him and he had decided not
to sell 1t. but keep 1t before the pub
lie. Goodwin decided not TO be done"
that way and let the matter rest
The picture was withdrawn from ex'
hibidon. and when it appeared again
the covetous expression that had been
left out was in 1t. This being reported
to the original. he went to see it again
and was furious Again he went to
his lawyer and directed him to prose
cute the artist for ridiculing him be-
fore the world. The lawyer showed
him cartoons of prominent men in the
newspapers and informed him that II
would be much more difficult for him
to recover In his Own case than for
A. 80 naSflav opr inry xypnld