288 GIVING "A LEG UP." 



Marshall produced by his style of painting, and in 

 this one particular some of his pictures exceed those 

 of any of the vastly superior artists I have seen 

 since. 



Looking at Marshall as a painter, he possessed 

 such glaring faults as would ever prevent his becom- 

 ing great as an artist. He had never been taught his 

 art, knew nothing of drawing, or the proper com- 

 parative diminution of objects as regards distance. 

 Of perspective he knew about as much as a Chinese : 

 in fact, he never made a picture without some fault 

 in it that no schoolboy who had learned drawing 

 for six months, would have looked over ; and when 

 he had made such an incongruity, all the painters 

 together who had ever exhibited at the Royal Aca- 

 demy could neither have made him allow it, alter it, 

 or I really believe see it. 



I can mention an anecdote of Marshall known but 

 to a few, but which shows the truth of what I state 

 of him. 



If any one will take the trouble to examine the 

 old print of Lord Darlington and his fox-hounds, 

 they will see one of the hounds in the fore-ground 

 has actually but three legs. Doubtless this was an 

 oversight in painting the picture, and excusable, in 

 fact would not have detracted from his general merit 

 as a painter, being merely an oversight ; but though 

 Marshall was told of this before the picture went to the 

 engraver's, nothing could induce him to put in the 

 fourth leg, nor did he. " There's legs enough among 

 the lot already," said he : " if any body finds one 

 wanting, they may suppose, if they like, the dog is 

 scratching his ribs with it." In this state was it 

 engraved, and in this state sold. 



