THE TRUE STORY OF "CHERRY RIPE."

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2033, 10 January 1889, Page 3

THE TRUE STORY OF "CHERRY RIPE."

» Mr W. L- Thomas, the founder and proprietor of the "Graphlo" give the following aooount of one of the most popular prints ever Issued with that paper : — " No picture ever painted, to my knowledge, has ever gained such extraordinary popularity M Billlsls's " Cherry Ripe," and as oamerous fond parent* have dressed np their children at ooatome balls with such petfeot Imitation that they at last have eonvinoed their friends and themselves that tbelr darling sat to Sir Everet for the original plotnre, It will be well to set doam In black and white its history. I had ft oblldrtn's fanoy dress ball at my own home, and my niece, with her wthtie taste, brought her little girl, Bdle Bamage, exactly as shown In the pktore. Everybody was charmed with her winning appearance ; bnt more so when she trotted abont with a little fail-haired boy of my own, dressed all m white *a a man oook. Next morning 1 took them both, dressed m their costumes, to Millais, and I recollect now the expression of the great master's face as the two little dots, baud m hand, entered the door of his studio. He was delighted, and. said so, and the subject he arranged to paint was the little girl pitting on the stairs, and the boy offering her some fruit. He decided to paint the girl io first. After some days' hard work Millais was so pleased with his demure little sitter, and his own rendering of the sub] ct, that he decided she should be alone, and do without her attendant cook — and of course he was right. It was reproduced m colours remarkably well. Nothing on so large a soale had ever been before attempted, and the ssnaatlon was extraordinary. We printed 000,000 copies. Oar publisher had to refund £4000 m bard eaih for ordera he could not txeoute, and dofond actions at law for not supplying the trade with the quantity required. An amusing episode was a telegram (reply paid) addr eased to me, with the suggestive query, ' Is the mother of i( Gherrv {tine " twljow? FJffWJrV