Victorian Books, The Diary of George Price Boyce 1855-1857

The Diary of George Price Boyce 1855-1857 is in The Diary of George Price Boyce.

1855 to 1856. The diaries for 1855 and 1856 are missing, but the following letter from Boyce to William Allingham helps to fill the gap.

09 Feb 1857. Brighton, February 9, 1857.

My Dear Allingham,

At the very time you were writing to me "How happy you travellers are, How I envy you !" your humble servant was lying on his bed at Giornico suffering the consequences of an innocent bit of fun, namely, scrambling over a wall and giving chase to a trio of country lasses who were wont to come and sit by me as I worked, and sing quaint ditties of the country to me. In the excitement of the moment I quite forgot my first nine months lying up some 5 or 6 years ago from an injury to the same part (the hip joint) by overwalking and skating, or should not at this very time be still paying the penalty of my folly. For, in fact, after resting and breaking off my work at Giornico and following professional advice in Paris for a month without benefit, I have at length been obliged to come down to this miserable place, accompanied by my sister as nurse, and put myself under my old doctor, Harrap (a quack as the faculty chooses to call him) who so wonderfully set me on my legs the first time. You will easily conceive what a sore trial this is to me, fond as I am of independence and freedom of movement. For in addition to lameness, comparative helplessness and expense, there's the thought of my lost season and the work neglected and neglecting to harass me. For five months I've scarcely touched a brush or pencil, and it's impossible to say when I shall be able to take to either vigorously again. All is not, you see, coulear de rose with us artist ramblers. There's poor Seddon, whom we have lost altogether, dying away from his wife and relatives in Cairo; and young Herbert; a painter of promise, cut off in the Auvergne. I hope in the meanwhile you have been blessed with good health and spirits, and that these have found vent occasionally in song of your own genuine quiet stamp. The "mowers" came very acceptably, and set the sharp scythe swiftly sweeping in my mind's ear and eve.

I should like you to have seen the chestnut harvest, and, especially, the vintage, at Giornico. The vines are not those ugly, short, stiff, monotonous things tied to sticks, that one meets with in France or by the Rhine, but free and full and forming a canopy of green and purple at a man's height from the ground, extending often many acres without interruption. You may in some measure conceive the effect of such a vineyard in vivid sunlight, the leaves and fruit glowing greeny-gold and crimson with transmitted light, tempered by the grey bloom and white lustre of their upper surfaces, and the network of flickering light and shadow on the supports and grass beneath; and then, giving wonderful life to the picture, the varied groups of vintagers from the hills and villages about, with their blue skirts and white shirt sleeves tucked up, their heads covered with scarlet and many-coloured fichus upturned, and their bare arms and hands, wine-stained, uplifted picking the purple pendants in the golden chequered light and flood of warm autumnal air. In fine contrast to this were the same vineyards looked at from above, at the commencement of a storm, when the big, heavy drops, heard afar off in their coming, began pattering loud upon the floor of leaves extending almost across the valley, and the fitful gusts of wind swooping over this green pavement came bristling it into hurrying spaces of shivering grey. Of course there was no painting either the oneor the other, even had I been in the cue. I passed the Simplon as late as the 8th November (though lingering at Giornico in hope of convalescence) the day before the snow.

The valley of Domo d'Ossola, as we entered it from the Maggiore lake by a deeply coloured sunset was magnificent. The groups of red-lit peaks seemed to be literally playing like flame along the green and profoundly quiet sky into which they almost melted. The glowing sunset gave gradual place as we approached the summit of the pass to misty moonlight which added mystery and awe to sublimity and loveliness. As the grey and bitterly cold dawn broke, we were passing through a dreary region of peaked granite snow and ice; and then gradually stole into view the colossal range of the Bernese Oberland with the glaciers at its roots stretching away inexpressibly grand and desolate till lost in the falling snow, mist or drizzle, which rendered all its forms doubly huge and ghostly. Then at Briegg commenced the wonderful valley of the Rhone, in which is the picturesque and characteristic town of Sion-N'lartigny, where I stayed a night.

With the gorge of the Trient, with the Lake of Geneva studded as it is—or rather as its banks are—with white houses and hotels ; and seeing it as I did in so late and dreary a season with the higher mountains cloud covered; I was much disappointed. Equally so with Chillon, Vevey, Clarens and Geneva themselves. Lausanne, I thought, was the only place on the northern bank I would care at all to stay at.

Between Seyssel and Lyons I noted in the grey twilight glimmer some very unusual interesting scenery. Long narrow treeless defiles with continuous jutting beds or string courses of rock along the sides with sloping debris at the bottom, room enough only for the road and small lakes here and there. Would you believe it, a railway embankment was being jammed into this ravine and smack through the little lakes, which will in consequence be nearly choked up, and the whole scene ruined, to a painter's eye at least. It's for you poets to "point the moral" and show us what we gain by all this—that's to say wishing to get over the ground so fast. I believe, but can't see, that all's working for good.

Your references to Tennyson and Browning were very interesting. What wonderful things there are in "Nlen and Women' '—especially ' 'In a Year," "Fra Lippo Lippi," that letter from the Arab student, and "Blougram." What I've read of "Aurora Leigh" I don't like nearly as much as these.

I didn't meet Ruskin (age 38) abroad. By a letter just received from my friend Warren, I find he (Ruskin) was present at the meeting at Hunt's about poor Seddon's works and spoke very feelingly and sympathisingly.

Rossetti (age 28), I hear, is hard at work on the Tennyson illustrations. I know nothing of what the rest of the brotherhood are doing.

I am very glad that "Anstis Cove" continues to please. It is so much more than I dare to hope for my drawings in general. I am anxious to know—as you don't refer to it—that you found the little spring sketch I promised you of a favourite valley in N. Wales, when you opened the case containing the larger drawing. Although slight, and done in 2 or 3 hours I think it's as truthful, as far as it goes, as the other, and that you would get to like it also. It was done on the spot. I put it loose into the case.

It's time I brought this jobation to a close. I shall be glad of a few lines when you can manage it.

Yours very truly,

George P. Boyce.

07 Apr 1857. Went to Solomon's (age 33). He has a grand picture, "Waiting for the Verdict." Saw some remarkable designs by his young brother (Simeon (age 16)) showing much Rossetti-like feeling8.

Note 8. Abraham Solomon (1824-62), elder brother of Rebecca and Simeon, Lived at 18 Gower Street and was showing his picture before it went to the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition where it was enthusiastically received (Private Collection). Simeon Solomon (c. 1840-1905) who died in poverty and disgrace, though a lesser artist than his brother, attracted attention from his youth with his Old Testament and mystical designs.

26 May 1857. (at Hayward's Heath). Letter from Wells (age 28) saying he and Rossetti (age 29) had been to my studio and walked off with that sunset sketch, and the crypt of St. Niccolo at Giornico, to exhibit with a collection of Pre-Raphaelite painters' work at 4 Russell Place, Fitzroy Square. They will look ridiculously small and mindless by the side of Rossetti's and Millais' and Hunt's works. I'm very vexed I wasn't in town to have contributed better things?

06 Jun 1857. Received from Wm. Rossetti (age 27) circular of the New York Exhibition of British Art. Works to be in readiness by end of August. Augustus Ruxton projector. F. M. Brown (age 36) goes with the things.

30 Jun 1857. June 30 at (Petworth). The pictures by Turner are of the crude yellow sort. The Chain Pier at Brighton being the best. He introduced in the foreground of it a broken basket with some floating turnips, carrots, etc., and as the old butler told me (who was in the house at the time and didn't relish the painter's uncouth manners) was savage when at Lord E. 's sug- gestion as to their specific gravity, he asked for a tub of water and some of the identical vegetables and found the latter all sank. They were evidently too useful in his picture to be removed.

27 Jun 1857. To P.R.B. Exhibition in Russell Place .... I found my little "Sunset" sketch in North Wales mounted in a preposterously wide gilt flat, whereas I had left it in my room mounted on white paper. A lot of the foreground is covered by the mount which completely spoils the sketch and looks ridiculously pretentious besides. Saw (at Hogarth's) a rather clever caricature-etching founded on Millais' "Dream of the Past" picture, to which the outlines were pretty strictly kept to. Millais (age 28) himself is the old Knight, Rossetti (age 29) the girl in front, Holman Hunt (age 30) the child behind. Ruskin (age 38) the ass on which they are riding and which is by far the best thing in the etching in every respect.

29 Jun 1857. Rossetti (age 29) and his friend Morris (age 23) (of 17 Red Lion Square), called on me in Buckingham St. and had tea. R. told me he was sure it was a man of the name of Sandys (age 28) who had done the caricature.

30 Jun 1857. Wm. Rossetti (age 27) told me that Roughskin (age 38) had married his wife [Euphemia "Effie" Gray Lady Millais (age 29)] when she was very ill ....

02 Jul 1857. W. Allingham (age 33) and Alex. Munro (age 31) came and breakfasted with me. Afterwards skirmished and rhapsodised and ecstasised over the new Tennyson, and Millais' and Rossetti's illustrations. A. said that when Tennyson was reading his "Maud" at Oxford, Carlyle, as he himself said, "Went out into the fields; I didn't want to hear his 'Maud,' I have read it before. Besides, I don't like to see a noble fellow like that letting hilnself out through such a gimlet hole" (meaning poetry).

13 Aug 1857. 4 drawings for the American Exhibition : Babbacombe Bay, 21½ x 13, 15 gns., St. Mark's Venice, S.W. angle, 21½ x 15½, 15 gns., St. Mark's, north side, 22 x 15½, 15 gns. Confessor's Chapel, 171 x 121, 12 gns.

08 Oct 1857. (To Manchester for a week, for the Exhibition of Art Treasures.)

17 Nov 1857. (at Birmingham). Met Mr. Burt at the Society of Artists' Exhibition by appointment. One of his pictures, "Haunts of the Sea Birds," almost the best thing in the whole gallery.

Burt and I went round to see poor old Mr. Cox (at Harborne). I found him not much altered in the face, but much Dulled down and enfeebled and his breathing very difficult. He did not recognise me at first sight, but recalled me to mind after a few words had passed. He asked me several questions as to when I had been to Bettws, whether I was continuing painting and where I had been to. He still continues painting, mostly in oil, and in idea and in colour often his present things are as Gne as the old. He showed me several things he had in hand. One a reach of the Thames with a whole rainbow in a grey sky, very true and effective; another a mountain and lake scene, etc. He was verv warm and friendly in parting, saving, "God bless you," several times. He pointed out the portrait of himself by Watson Gordon, which was presented to him and which hung on the wall saying, he had to go to Edinburgh on purpose.

19 Nov 1857. Adjourned to Millais' (age 28) house, just taken, No. 16 York Terrace, at about 4, and not finding him in waited and had a long and very pleasant chat with his wife [Euphemia "Effie" Gray Lady Millais (age 29)], who has a lovely and passionate face, and whose manner is particularly engaging and ladylike withal. At her request, and afterwards backed by Millais, stayed to dinner, after which she left and I had a long chat on divers subjects with him. He spoke about Ruskin (age 38), whom he thinks desperately ill off, and of the portrait he painted of him in Scotland, which he thought the finest thing in the way of portraiture he had yet done, and said he wanted it for the exhibition (R.A). He seemed astonished when I told him I had seen it in Ruskin's bedroom?

23 Nov 1857. Mordan (brother-in-law) told me he had gone to see Mr. W. Boone after I had been there, and that the old gentleman was very crusty and ill-natured in his remarks about me, went against my wearing a wide-awake hat and letting my hair grow, and my personal appearance generally; abused the whole body of artists generally, whom he considered as an immoral and conceited set of men, and so on.

24 Nov 1857. (Prof. Giorgio's treatment.) I was weighed and measured, 11 st. 6 lbs. Height, 5 ft. 8½ in.

25 Nov 1857. Brought away Millais' head of his wife's (age 29) sister [Sophie Gray (age 14)], paying £63 for it?

Note. The portrait referred to is likely to be Millais' "Study for Autumn Leaves".

07 Dec 1857. Joanna's (age 26) birthday, and the day Wells (age 28) and she desired to be married on, but in all probability they will not get the deed in time at Rome, where they now are? | call for all happiness and prosperity in store for them.

12 Dec 1857. Went down to Burges (age 30). Miss Cook (of 18 Clipstone St.) was sitting to him for the figure in his fountain?

21 Dec 1857. Ruskin (age 38) came and stayed an hour. He seemed a good deal taken with several of my Giornico drawings and one of the Venice tomb drawings, and said I should apply myself earnestly to drawing with the point, should put more detail in my drawings; give distinction to distant parts by quantity of mysterious detail. He said he should come again.