Page:Anecdotes of painters, engravers, sculptors and architects, and curiosities of art (IA anecdotesofpaint01spoo).pdf/151

 believe that I looked foolish enough, and he gave me a pretty sharp lecture, without my making any reply. But when the head was finished, there were no figures of three in the hair."

"Mr. West," says Stuart, "treated me very cavalierly on one occasion: but I had my revenge. My old master, who was always called upon to paint a portrait of his majesty for every governor-general sent out to India, received an order for one for Lord . He was busily employed upon one of his ten-acre pictures, in company with prophets and apostles, and thought he could turn over the king to me. He could never paint a portrait.

"'Stuart,' said he, 'it is a pity to make his majesty sit again for his picture; there is the portrait of him that you painted; let me have it for Lord . I will retouch it, and it will do well enough.' 'Well enough! very pretty,' thought I; 'you might be civil, when you ask a favor.' So I thought; but I said, 'Very well, sir.' So the picture was carried down to his room, and at it he went. I saw he was puzzled. He worked at it all that day. The next morning, 'Stuart,' says he, 'have you got your palette set?' 'Yes, sir.' 'Well, you can soon set another; let me have it; I can't satisfy myself with that head.'

"I gave him my palette, and he worked the greater part of that day. In the afternoon I went into his room, and he was hard at it. I saw that he had got up to the knees in mud. 'Stuart,' says he, 'I