t 
100 THE ORCHID REVIEW. [May, 1917. 
For some years Mr. Day employed Mr. C. B. Durham, a miniature 
painter, who exhibited largely at the Royal Academy and Suffolk Galleries 
between 1828 and 1858, to make coloured drawings of Orchids, and from a 
note in the Kew correspondence there were 300 drawings by this artist 
made at a cost of £3 each. This collection, described as a very fine one, 
was sold by auction after Mr. Day’s death, and is now the property of Mr. 
Jeremiah Colman, of Gatton Park, Surrey. 
We have mentioned Durham, because his name occurs here and there 
in Mr. Day’s books, appended to a flower or a plant, and because he 
appears to have given Mr. Day lessons in drawing. In Book 14, p. 10, for 
instance, there is the note, appended to a drawing of Cattleya bicolor: 
=> My oth: lesson.” - At pr-66 of the ‘same book is a coloured drawing of 
Cattleya Schilleriana splendens, and the following note: ‘‘ Drawn by Mr. 
Durham, June, 1862; the first drawing he ever did here. This from the 
plant bought at Mr. Allen’s sale at Stevens’ in June, 1860, and:the:subject 
of Mr. Durham’s beautiful drawing at Vol. vii. p. 11.” 
x ae Mane = Pee ‘ 
a a es bi rh aN a a ee a ala 
ee See eee 
FS eT eT RE se 
In 1863 Mr. Day himself began sketching, the first sketch being dated 
January toth, and he continued to make drawings up to within a few weeks 
of his death, January 15th, 1888, the last but one bearing the date 
November 12th, 1887, the last being undated. All of the earlier ones are 
in ink, but in many cases he afterwards added coloured sketches, always 
giving the date when done. The earliest sketches are somewhat rough 
and diagrammatic, though botanically correct ; but he improved rapidly, 
and his later work was admirably executed, both as to drawing and 
colouring. Day must have been very industrious at that period, for, by the 
middle of February, 1864, he was half-way through his seventh book, 
where (page 45) there is a coloured fi 
with the following note: 
using Gerty’s paint box. 
a box for myself.” 
gure of Cypripedium purpuratum, 
“* This is the first drawing I attempted in colours, 
I am sufficiently satisfied with the result to buy 
His satistaction was quite justifiable, and his persever- 
ance was soon rewarded with great success. Practically all he did after 
this was coloured. In December, 1882, he wrote to Kew applying for # 
pass of admission before the general public, in order that he might make 
drawings of the ‘“ smaller, insignificant Orchids.” This was granted, and, 
writing again in 1866, he mentions that he had d 
had not seen elsewhere. 
1887. From time to time h 
The fact that John Day’ 
of the types of Reichenbac 
them are not otherwise re 
rawn at least 70 that he 
His last Kew drawing is dated October 2gth, 
€ presented living plants to Kew. 
s collection contains drawings of a large number 
h’s species adds greatly to its value, as most of 
presented at Kew, and probably in no other 
henbachian shut up at Vienna, which, according 
to thet 
erms of Reichenbach’'s testament, will not be accessible until 1914- 
