xiv Portraits, Medallions, Artistic Work 157 



You observe very justly that few hands can be got to 

 paint flowers in the style we wish them to be done I 

 may add, nor any other work we do. We must make 

 them. There is no other way. We have stepped forward 

 before the other manufacturers, and we must strive to 

 train up hands to suit our purposes. Where, amongst 

 our potters, could I get a complete Vase-maker ? Nay, 

 I could not get a hand through the whole pottery to 

 make a table plate, without training him up for that 

 purpose ; and you must be content to train up such 

 painters as offer, and not turn them adrift because they 

 cannot immediately form their hands to our new style, 

 which, if we consider what they have been doing all 

 their life, we ought not to expect from them." 



Wedgwood proceeded to press Bentley about his 

 proposed drawing and modelling school for the purpose 

 of training up artists. He would employ young boys 

 and girls, and set them drawing and modelling until 

 they were proficient ; and when any new modellers 

 were wanted, draft them out of this school. In the 

 meanwhile, Wedgwood sent some new painters to Lon- 

 don from Etruria. Some of them went by waggon ; 

 Mr. and Mrs. Wilcox were a week on the road, with 

 their pencils and brushes tied in a bundle. Those who 

 went by the lumbering coach were three days on the 

 road. What a difference in the rate of travelling 

 nowadays ! 



We have already said that Wedgwood aimed at pro- 

 ducing the largest quantity, as well as the best quality, 



