Celebrated Artist's Model.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 17 April 1914, Page 8

Celebrated Artist's Model.

When Sir John Millais was engaged upon his picture, "The NorthWest Passage," now in the Tate Gallery, he was unable to find a suitable model for the old mariner —one man only, Trelawney, the former friend of Byron and Shelley, realising his ideal. On being approached by the artist, the old gentleman gave a flat refusal, whereupon Lady Mallais undertook to try her powers of persuasion. For a time Trelawney was adamant, but at length was so far won over as to agree to sit, conditionally on the artist's wife taking a certain number of baths at a Turkish baths establishment in which he had a pecuniary interest. To this Lady Mallais agreed, with the result that Shelley's old friend is depicted in the canvas. There is, however, an amusing sequel. In the picture the weatherbeaten sea-dog is shown with a glass of grog at his elbow, a realistic touch which gave mortal offence to the irascible model, who, a. strict teetotaler himself, was horrified at the idea of being handed down to ! posterity as a drunkard. So much, indeed, did he take this to heart that he refused for a long time to pardon the unfortunate artist.