132 THE STRAND MAGAZINE.

of the procession, and many other figures 1Ntro- duced into that most remarkable work : a sketch ‘or the “Slug- card,” and a tiny model in plaster of the trio of beautitul maidens which form the subject of one of his Academy pic- tures for this year, “* The Gar- den of the Hes- perides.”

I asked Sir Frederick to tell me something about his studies for his pictures. I learnt that they were numberless. | He is constantly making little play-sketches —hundreds of them in the course of a ycar . many of them may never be used, yet every one may come in useful at some time. He carefully preserves all these studies—he still has stored away the littic book in which he used to draw as a boy when he was nie years-of age. He is continually finding little sketches he made years age coming

Lrrom a 'hoto. by]

From a Photo. by]

THIE CORRIDOR,

UNDER THE STUDIO WINDOW,

PR s vt H

rEliott & Fry

in for pictures to-day. Sir Frederick took from a portfolio some of these studies. They were done on pieces of brown paper ; one of thesc was for a Sibyl; two others were the first studies for two of the maidens in the “ Garden of the Hesperides,” and yet

two more which were prominent figures 1

his famous work * Andromache.” Some of these are reproduced 1n these pages.

There are quite a number of easels about with works upon them which are still in pro- gress.

“Here i1s a very beautiful drawing by Grainsborough,” said Sir Frede- rick, taking down from the wall one of the familiar Gainsborough women, with the equally familiar Gainsborough hat and feathers, which any mo- dern woman would envy. It was a study for a picture he painted

tor George IIL

[Fliott & Hru.