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25 April 1894 — 1 Queen Anne Street | |
Wednesday. 25th [April 1894]. I walked with Augusta to Christy’s in the morning to see some pictures on sale—amongst them Ary Schäfers Dante & Beatrice so often engraved. Some pictures belonging to Burdett Foster by Burne Jones subjects of George & the Dragon—& 3 pictures by Alma Tadema. I was sorry to see how black the colours of the latter were turning– Augusta went on to her rooms & I took a cab back to Cav. Sqr to see Blanche about the Sale & arranged many things with her. Met Alice Murray there & went shopping with her– Home to lunch. Drove out with Augusta & went to Little Holland House to call on Mrs Watts. She was out but Watts received us in his studio & was very bright & charming—talked delightfully and gave us tea at which he made me preside– Miss Taylor (daughter of Sir Henry) came in also. Watts declares that he has never been so well in his life owing to the Salisbury treatment wh he is following. It is merely a system of dieting & drinking hot water. We talked of the appointment to the Directorship of the National Gallery & of Poynter’s being most likely to get it. He said if he gave up his art for it, it would be a pity altho’ now a days the profession is not what it was & so few people sold their works—& he had constant appeals for help from brother artists of whom we should be surprized to hear at—besides that now a days if there was a stupid boy in the family who cd not pass an examination into any other profession—& had a facility with his pencil—straightway he was made an artist. Just as we were leaving the house Mrs Watts came home & saluted us with a few words. Watts took us down into his gallery & drew our attention to several of his pictures one being “Love & death” & said that he was happy to observe that his oldest pictures were not changing their colours. He said also I am old but I hope still to do my best work. I am 77 & in my 78th year but I am well– I get up at 5 & paint till midday– By then I am a little tired but I take a rest & then paint again.” A hamper of flowers came up from Inwood & Augusta & I were busy arranging them when Lord Carlisle came in & after sitting with us a little while went upstairs to see Henry. Then Mr Alfred Cole called & we had a scramble to dress for 6.45 dinner to which Sir Henry Thompson came to he took us to the play. We went to see Twelfth Night at Daly’s Theatre in which Miss Rehan does Viola. It is beautifully put on the stage & the old music sung is very pretty– Miss Rehan saw us there & sent Sir Henry a note asking us to go round to her room to see her after the 3rd act which we did. She was alone & very civil to us. She asked Sir Henry to be kind eno’ to see one of their girls who had suddenly been taken with a kind of fit. He did so & came back saying it was only an hysterical fit & he had told them what to do. We were sitting talking when suddenly Miss Rehan jumped up & fled—she had nearly forgotten to attend to her call & by the time we got back to our seats there she was on the stage. We got home early & had tea before going to bed. | |
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