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AN ARTISTS RECOLLECTIONS.

• Mr R. Caton Woodville, the most ] famous English paintor of war pictures m our time, has had a life full of incident, and his "Random Recollections" just published make very racy reading. : His name has been so long before the world that probably most people will be suprised to learn that he is only in his 53th year, having been born in 1856. He is a Londoner by birth, but j his father was an American and his mother was a German lady. They wero both art students at- Diisseldorf when they became acquainted,, and Mr Caton Woodville became a student at tho Royal Academy at the same town in 187 G. Ho seems to have led a menry student life, and Dudley Hardy, who studied at Diisseldorf, eight or nine years afterwards, said that the students used to date evonts as happening before Woodville came, or while ho was at Dussoldorf, or after he left. After some interesting experiences in Albania and Montenegro, at the end of the Russo-Turkish War, Mr Caton Woodvillo went to Egypt in 1882, at the beginning of the British occupation. While there he receivod a command from Queen Victoria, through Lord Dufferin, ; to paint H.R.H. tho Duke of Con- | naught, and tho Guards at tho battle of Tel-el-Kebir. This was the first of many royal commissions to follow, and not-the least interesting chapter in Mr Caton |Woodville's book is that in which ho gives his recollections of various members of the British Royal Family. Once he found himself involved in a very awkward predicament. One of his pictures represented the death of Sir Herbert Stewart on his way back from Metemneh, returning from tho ill-fated Gordon Relief. Expedition. It was exhibited under the title of "Tn Vain," in "the Academy of 1886. Ho was just on the eve of leaving for a lengthened expedition in Morocco with ihe late Sir William Green, and he owed a large bill for furniture and decorations to a prominent, house in Tottenham Court road. A friend of his, Sir William Ingram, proprietor of the "Illustrated London News, ' mentioned his journey to the head of the firm, and suggested that he should take Mr Woodville's picture in settlement of the bill. The suggestion was accepted, but before tho artist was informed of it he received a command to send the picture to Windsor, Ho showed it to tho Queen, who admired it, and desired to purchase it; his price was mentioned, and the purchase completed. On returning to London he wired to Sir William and asked him not to worry any more about the picture as he would now prefer to pay cash to the firm instead. But the head of the firm now refused to- part with the picture and told Sir William that somehow or other he had found out where the picture was, and that he must either have it or tbe Queen's cheque, which was considerably larger than the bill owing. In this dilemma Mr Woodville went back to Windsor and saw Sir Henry Ponsonby, the' Queen's secretary. The Queen sent for him, listened atte'itively to his sfory, lauched very heartily, and said "Evidently the picture belongs to Messrs , so they, of course, must have it. Will you pa-int us a replica of it of tho same size and at the same price." This settled the matter very satisfactorily for Mr Caton Woodville, and the story is striking evidence of Queen Victoria's capacity for business combined with a large heartedness not often found in such combination. .We cannot say, jiowever, that we envy the dispositio l of the head of the furniture firm who hung the picture in his country hous» and was in the habit of saying to his guests, "This is the picture I wouldn't let .the Queen have." Mr WoodvilK* painted an equestrian portrait of King Edward V[f. in the first instance from photojzraphs and Jrom models dressed in the Kkig's uniform. When it was well advanced it went to Marlborough. House for sittings. Tho King

was very pleased with it until he ex- ■ T-iuined his legs. "Oh. Mr WoodyiHo, he said, "what a pair of niapificont legs you have given mc! These are simply splendid. But now look at my short" one*. You will have to make these much shorter."' Mr Woodville pointed out that in some of tho photographs they apnea red quite as long as ho had painted them; but nothing would convince his Majesty; a pyote had to come off and it did. He was also very particular that he should m no wav be flattered, but painted exactly as he was, especially as to the grey in his hair and board. Not all of Mr \\ oodville's recollections aro in so sedate .a strain: the adventures he describes ra •The Cruise of tbe. Heather Bell, for example, are almost worthy of Charles Lever. (Londuu: Eveleigh NashChristchurch: Messrs Simpson 3nd WilI liams, is.)

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19140530.2.47.1

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Press, Volume L, Issue 149814, 30 May 1914, Page 9

Word count
Tapeke kupu
827

AN ARTISTS RECOLLECTIONS. Press, Volume L, Issue 149814, 30 May 1914, Page 9

AN ARTISTS RECOLLECTIONS. Press, Volume L, Issue 149814, 30 May 1914, Page 9

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