136 [HE

IFlorence, that his futurc carcer was decided upon. His father said to him:

“Now, Ifred, give me a your designs, and I will take them to Mr Powers,” referring to Hiram Powers, the celebrated American sculptor. “ It he says that you will be a distinguished artist, all well and good. 1F not, you must give up the ideal”

His father took some sketches, including a great battle-scene suggested by Macaulay's pocins.

“And what 1s the verdict, Mr. Powers ? Tasked Mr. Leighton.

• Shall T make

him an artist ?"

The reply was: “Youcan't help yourself, sir 3 Nature has done it for you.”

“Will he be an eminent ar- tist 7?7 then asked Mr, Leighton.

The answer was: YSIr your son can be as eminent as he pleases.”

This settled the whole ques- tion, and the youthtul artist from that day was allowed free course 1 the matter.

“1I have a slight recollec- tion of my first drawing master,” said Sir Frederick. * While at Rome I remember saying to my father, ‘I want to learn draw- ing.” *All right,” was the reply, ‘go and get a master.” | made inquirics, obtained the address of a man, went to him and cn- gaged him. I remember he was very much amusced when he found that T knew how to write down his name and address ; but he gave mc most carcful attention, and outline dldWIHO: to copy. Ile was very frm; if he did not like my copy he used to put threc strokes across 1t, and make me do it again.”

Young Leighton then studied in the Academy at Berlin, then at Frankfort-on-

STRAND

number of

one of

STUDY FOR

MAGAZINE, Main, and afterwards went to Brusscls,

where he painted his frst important pic- ture, representing Cimabue findimg Giotto drawing in the fields. So yuars ])'h\'cd O i slud\mo in_ Paris, copylng pictures i the Louvre, and returning again to Frank- fort. T'he first picture w hich told I: nelish- men ol the genius ot Hir I‘]L(]L,lld\ was “ Cimabuc’s Procession,” exhibited at the Royal Academy 1n 1823

“ 1 shall never forget packing that pic- turc up to send it to Iongland,” said S Ifrede- rick s D was Rome at the time. 1 found some ol the colours on the canvas wcrc quite wet, but 1 risked 1t and, taking some varnish with a brush, 1 wont for mv picture. It was stull so wet that the paint came ol by touching it with a hanaker- chicf, TTowever, it arrived In Ingland as sound as 2 rock, and thce Oucen bought 1t 1m- mediately 1t was

exhibited.” It was 1n Rome that

Thackceray, A SIBYL. whilst IL.cgch-

ton’s name was barely known 1 IKngland, wrote to Millais and told him that he had met a * versatile young dog who will run you hard for the P IL‘bldLIILbhlp onc day.” \Vlth the advent of * Cimabuc's Procession” his fame was established and his genius at once recog- nised. Ile did not, however, come to Kng- land for four years after his first great success. Ifrom the time he settled in this country up to the present day cvery pic- turc that he has painted has called for diligent study from the public. Ile was elected an Associate of the Roval Academy 1 1804, and an Academician i 18609. Hc became President in succession to Sir