64 Some Notes on Gainsborough and his connection with Bradford. 



necessities had well-nigh exhausted the ingenuity of the Chancellor 

 of the Exchequer, William Pitt, a grievous tax was laid on our 

 windows. Now, as there were all sorts and sizes of window-lights, 

 disputes arose as to what a window really was ; finally it was decided 

 that all lights at a certain distance from each other were liable to 

 be taxed as separate windows. Orpen was equal to the occasion, 

 and by placing these two small loop-hole lights on either side of the 

 centre window, thus reducing the distance, he was rated for one 

 window instead of three ; in reality having five lights and paying 

 for one. The cottage overlooks the parish churchyard, and immedi- 

 ately in front of it, underneath a plain stone slab, lie the remains of 

 him whose memory has been long cherished for his intelligence, 

 generosity,and moral worth,and who will still be remembered for many 

 generations yet to come, through the genius and skill of his friend, 

 who has left to posterity so true a likeness of his manly features. 



In the National Gallery this picture is named " The Parish Clerk." 

 Now, as there are parish clerks and parish clerks, I must take ex- 

 ception to this slight on Orpen, which ignores his identity, and I 

 would suggest a friendly remonstrance be tendered to the trustees 

 from this Association, with a request that Gainsborough's portrait 

 may be catalogued " Orpen, the Parish Clerk." 



For one moment I must call your attention to another picture, 

 presented by Gainsborough to Mr. Wiltshire, and said to have been 

 painted from a sketch made in this neighbourhood. Of this painting 

 Gainsborough said, that " it pleased him more than any he had ever 

 executed." It is called " The Keturn from Harvest,'^ and represents 

 a picturesque-looking waggon, with its driver, returning home at 

 the close of the day. Two of the figures are portraits of his 

 daughters, and one of the horses is a drawing of the grey pony 

 given to the artist by Mr. Wiltshire. This picture is a charming 

 bit of Nature, beautiful in color, and one of Gainsborough's most 

 characteristic works. At the death of Mr. W^iltshire's grandson, 

 about twenty years ago, it was purchased for Her Majesty at £3500. 



The circumstances, however, that led to the purchase are not 

 generally known. The Queen, when visiting Bath as Princess 

 Victoria, on the occasion of her opening the Royal Victoria Park in 



