xvrii Wedgwood at Work again 237 



It has been twice finished to moulding, but not satis- 

 factorily. I this morning (1st August 1779) resumed 

 my old employment, took the modelling tools into my 

 own hands, and made one side of the head, pretty near 

 like the genii, and I will take another stroke at him 

 this afternoon. I have opened his mouth, and I shall 

 send him to you singing some of his own divine poems." 

 It may be added that the head of Virgil was satis- 

 factorily finished, and was regarded as one of Wedgwood's 

 finest works. 



In the summer of 1779 Wedgwood made a friendly 

 visit to Sir William Hamilton at his property at Blithe- 

 field, near Lichfield. "His new room, he wrote to 

 Bentley, "is hung round with Correggios, Eaphaels, 

 Guercinos, Bassanos, and the works of many superb 

 masters. . . . Amongst other great works of art Sir 

 William particularly pointed out the chimneypiece to 

 my attention, assuring me at the same time that he 

 esteemed it the best piece in his room, and showed it as 

 such to all his visitors. You know the pieces, Homer 

 and Hesiod for the tablet, and the Muses for the frieze. 

 The statuarist has done them justice, and they look 

 charmingly, and do more than support themselves in the 

 very fine company into which he has introduced them. 

 ... In looking at the tablet, I lamented a little chip 

 off the edge, which misfortune, I suppose, had befallen 

 it in the hands of the workman. We esteem it a happy 

 accident, said Sir William, it shows the merit, the fine 

 texture of the composition, which might otherwise have 



