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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    —from which it was the Will of Heaven he should not return in life / / “ The Service concluded, he was descending from the Gallery where his Brothers Pew was—but his hands encumbered with Hat Umbrella and prayer book—His feet equally So with Golloshes he was unable to recover from a slip of his feet and went down the flight of stairs with great rapidity and force,—Such as to project him beyond the Stairs—So that his head came with heavy fall on the pavement of the Church floor—the vital spark was gone. He —neither looked, spoke, moved—or breathed again. “ Such was the Will of God—and doubtless all in Mercy.—Of a nervous temperament, illness affected my good Uncle greatly— and, would have embittered the decline of a life—which had long been preparing as was evinced by his Conduct, and writing, for that Future State—So as to be by “ Redeeming Mercy— Ready to Depart! ! ” Farington’s name became widely known mainly through the drawings, published in book form, of his many tours in England, Scotland and France. As a man he won the highest respect, and his influence was exercised for the good of his fellow men. He -was “ a true gentleman,” says James Morthcote. . . . “ The great man to be looked up to on all occasions . . . his great passion was the love of power—he loved to rule. He did it, of course, with considerable dignity.” In the life of Sir Martin Shee, a President of the Royal Academy, we read : “ The principal spokesman was Mr. Farington, whose name was associated with every proceeding of the Royal Academy, in v/hose movement for good or evil he exercised so powerful a control as to procure for him the appellation of the Dictator of the Academy. He possessed a degree of weight in the deliberations of the councils of the body far beyond what any other member could hope to attain or excel.” On May 8, 1792, a correspondent who severely criticizes Farington’s “ Views of Windsor Castle ” and “ Westminster ” added : “ Though Mr. Farington has more authority in the Academy than any other member, and from Majesty of appearance, and haughtiness of Behaviour can terrify His puny Competitors into violent obedience, we speak our opinion.” His discretion and liberality, long experience, candour and even temper brought to him all who wanted counsel in the important, and even trivial, affairs of life.—A Turner or a Constable—wishing to be elected an A.R.A. ; a Lawrence, a Hoppner, or a Wilkie, anxious to secure full Academic honours, eagerly sought Farington’s favour.
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