Volume 1

The Farington diary / edited by James Greig.

  • Joseph Farington
Date:
[1922?-1928]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The Farington diary / edited by James Greig. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    He thought it not a proper subject for Westall. I mentioned what He had said to J. Boydell, observing if such a picture was to be painted it might as well be given to me, & Smirke. Boydell expressed his in¬ dignation at his Uncles conduct, and sd. He wd. exert himself to put a stop to his wild schemes, but that shd. such a picture be painted, He would rather it was given to us than to others. Marchant passed the evening with me, and told me He had lately passed two days at St. Anne’s Hill with Mr [Charles James] Fox and Mrs Armstead.—Their manner of living is, to breakfast at 9,—dine at 4,— Coffee and tea soon after 6, then walk, then cards, and slight supper at 9, and to bed at 10. Their table plain.—A little girl, a daughter of Mr Fox, but not by Mrs Armstead was there. Mr Fox spoke of the Arts, and said Commerce must support them. He entertains the highest opinion of Sir Joshua Reynolds,—and thinks very favourably of North- cote & Opie.—Of West He spoke with contempt and thinks slightly of the works of Fuseli. Marchant shewed him his Intaglio of the por¬ trait of Windham, He said it was like but bid him take it away. Lord Berwick encourages the artists at Rome. Miss Carr, of New¬ castle, who is lately returned from Rome, He [Marchant] says excells all the Ladies in practise that are at present distinguished. [She never exhibited at the R.A., nor is her name mentioned in Bryan’s Dictionary.] Marchant told me of the melancholy event of the death of poor Vandergucht, the picture dealer, who was drowned in crossing the Thames at Chiswick on Tuesday last by the Boat being overset by a Barge.—He has left a widow and eleven children. September 29.—Called on Smirke, who has laid in the figures of the Charles 2d. picture.—He has settled with A. Boydell for the former pictures. The prices to be 150 guineas for Gadshill—100 for Hearnes Oak—and 200 for Sly. October 1.—Breakfasted at Lord Inchiquins. Lady Inchiquin told me that Poggi had been with Her, that He had reed. £460, but that He begged He might be allowed to postpone a settlement till February.— That He had been at great expences & had lately been subjected to in¬ convenience by Mr West having insisted on his paying a sum of money which He had lent to Poggi. [He was the dealer employed by Lady Inchiquin to sell the drawings inherited from her uncle, Sir Joshua Reynolds.] Lady I. desired me to speak to Lawrence abt. settling the acct. for the Kings pictures, [left unfinished by Reynolds], but that in part Lord Inchiquin wd. sit to Lawrence for a half length. I mentioned to her that his price was 80 gs. October 3.—Bestland called on me. He is much concerned to find Reynolds [the engraver] has begun a work of the Academicians. He called this morning on West, from whom He understood that Rey¬ nolds said He knew Bestland, who had no objection to the undertaking of Reynolds. Beechy went with Bestland to Wests, & to Paul Sandbys,