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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    I793 Marat and R.A. Election October 26.—Hamilton [R.A.] was well acquainted with Marat [who was killed in his bath by Charlotte Corday], and with Brissot [also a Revolutionary leader : he was guillotined], when they were in England [in 1775]. Hamilton studied under Zucchi [A.R.A.], to whose house Marat came in the most familiar manner, a knife and fork being laid for him every day. He borrowed from Zucchi at different times about ^500, which he could not repay. He professed himself a physician, and cured Bonomi, the architect, of severe complaints twice or three times. He had an original way of thinking in his professional capacity, as was observed by the apothecary who made up the medicines, and acted against common rules. He was a little man, about the size of Cosway, the painter, slender but well made. Of a yellow aspect, and had a quick eye. He had a great deal of motion, seldom keeping his body or limbs still. He was thin, discontented, and abused the estab¬ lishments which existed. This was about 18 years ago, when Marat appeared about 40 years of age. Zucchi at that time courted Angelica Kauffman, the artist [a foundation member of the Royal Academy], and frequently took Marat with him in the evenings, when he went to visit her. Lawrence, R.A., allows his Father for the support of his family near .£300 a year. He pays for his own lodgings in Bond-street 200 guineas a year. His price for portraits is 40 guineas for a three-quarter, 80 guineas for a half-length, and 160 guineas for a whole-length. October 28.—At noon C. and J. Offley left town with me. We stopped some time at Twickenham, where I crossed the water and made a drawing. Went to Kingston, then Teddington, 3 miles, to dinner. The tide rises at Twickenham about 1 foot and a half in common tides. An old boatman at the Ferry gave me this account. He said the difference between the rising of the tide at Twickenham and Tedding¬ ton is about I foot. The tide, he said, seldom reached Kingston. Hampton Village October 29.—From Hampton Court we proceeded on the Surrey side of the River, and keeping close to it, to Hampton, a mile farther^