A FLOOD IN THE HIGHLANDS. 51 



After, as was reported at the time, remaining in the studio of the painter during 

 the space of seven years, Landseef's "Flood in the Highlands" was seen at the 

 Academy in 1 860 ; but even then the large canvas — for its dimensions considerably 

 exceeded those of any picture by him that I remember — seemed to be unfinished. 

 The incident it delineates occurred in Morayshire, when the waters rose to such a 

 height in some parts as to compel the cottagers to seek refuge on the roofs of their 

 dwellings. The details of the disaster in a special locality, ,the bothie, or public- 

 house, of one Alick Gordon, are sufficiently saddening ; and upon these, to a minute 

 degree, the painter has dwelt, " forgetting that the spectator, as well as Alick, is ready 

 to be harrowed by the ' red an' jawin' spate.' " The roof of the house occupies almost 

 the entire surface of the canvas, so as to preclude any signs of the flood, except in the 

 terror it creates. It is, therefore, necessary to look closely into the picture before one 

 can comprehend that the effect produced is caused by a semi- deluge. The principal 

 figures are the wife of Gordon — the impersonation of despair as she sits rocking an 

 infant in her lap — and an elderly man, probably her father, who is seated near her, his 

 understanding so overshadowed by the twilight of a lengthened tale of years, as to be 

 unable rightly to comprehend the exact state of affairs. So much of their goods and 

 chattels as could be secured is deposited with them on the thatch ; while the pro- 

 prietor himself is endeavouring to rescue from destruction a grey horse still harnessed 

 to a cart. "A couple of ducks are swimming about in a sort of quiet pool under the 

 eaves of the roof. It is to them a holiday — a red-letter day in their calendar ; they 

 are perfectly happy, and wonder why everybody else cannot be so. These ducks are 

 the farceurs of the drama ; we sympathise profoundly with the poor collie and her 

 puppies, and can even shed tears with poor Mrs. Gordon in her tribulation ; but we 

 return to the ducks, and see in their happiness an antidote to every painful feeling." 

 And why so ? simply from the fact already stated, that we do not see the flood, but 

 are only left to imagine its existence. Could we only witness the rushing torrents of 

 waters, and fancy we heard their roar, and the crashing of every opposing object, even 

 the ducks would command sympathy, and every living creature on the scene would 

 have deep commiseration. It is only due to the artist to remark that the whole 

 arrangement of the composition is most skilful, and many parts of it are very solidly 



painted. 



Among the pictures belonging to Mr. C. R. Leslie, R.A., and sold in i860, after 

 his death, were two presented to him by Landseer ; one a study for a white horse, 

 given as a hint for Rosinante in Leslie's picture of " Don Quixote," in the possession 

 of the Earl of Essex, sold for 44 guineas ; the other, a goat's head, which realised 240 

 guineas, was bought by Mr. Gambart. At the sale, in the same year, of a portion of 

 the collection of Mr. Wells, of Redleaf, "The Stonebreaker's Daughter" passed 

 into the hands of Mr. Waller for 1,090 guineas. 



