144 ECHOES OF OLD COUNTY LIFE. 



season his wrath was appeased. Determined not to be 

 thrice disappointed, Vernon Heath was sent to tlie 

 dilatory painter in good time, and, to his disgust, there 

 Avas apparently no picture ready, but two days only 

 before the reception Landseer promised faithfully it 

 should be in the place reserved for it. As several 

 considerable advances of money had been made by Mr. 

 Vernon on the strength of his promises, he insisted that 

 no failure should again occur, and on the morning before 

 the opening the picture arrived quite wet from the 

 easel. Vernon Heath assured me that it had not been 

 commenced more than forty-eight hours before its 

 delivery ! When the picture is carefully examined, every 

 one will be perfectly astonished at the marvellous 

 dexterity and beauty of finish of this masterly perform- 

 ance — i^SOO was thus easily and satisfactorily earned in 

 less than two days. 



Landseer often told the following story of himself, 

 which was related to me by the Duke of Grafton, when 

 still Lord Charles Fitzroy. He was once passing down 

 a street near Piccadilly, and seeing a very good specimen 

 of his own work in the window of a picture-dealer, 

 walked into the shop and inquired the name of the 

 painter. The attendant said the picture was a genuine 

 Landseer, and one of the best he ever painted. Landseer 

 took it up and critically examined it, and asked if the 

 dealer could warrant it. " Most certainly," he replied ; 

 "and what is more, he'll never paint another." " How is 

 that.?" says Landseer. "Gone, sir, gone," he replied, 

 putting his finger to his forehead ; " gone, sir, completely 

 off his head, and not likely ever to recover." Landseer 



