Victorian Books, The Diary of George Price Boyce 1858

The Diary of George Price Boyce 1858 is in The Diary of George Price Boyce.

05 Jan 1858. January 5. At T. F. Marshall's request sent by messenger for the meeting of the Philographic Society held this evening at 21 Savile Row, a portfolio of 52 sketches, framed drawing of the interior of S. Nicholas Giornico, and my Rossetti drawing of the dancers and lady with the lute.

11 Jan 1858. Took steam boat down the river to the Leviathan steam- ship at Milwall. Got into a small boat and was rowed alongside and in front of it. Looking at it foreshortened ahead of the bows, the lines very graceful and nautilus like. Saw it move, or rather strive, 4 times.

21 Jan 1858. January 21. Holman Hunt (age 30) and Martineau called on me at 7 and stayed till nearly half-past 10. After desultory chat and looking at drawings, etc., Hunt introduced the subject which principally brought him. Having in prospect to marry Annie Miller (age 23), after that her education both of mind and manners shall have been completed, he wished to destroy as far as was possible all traces of her former occupation, viz, that of sitting to certain artists (those artists, however, being all his personal friends, Rossetti, A. Hughes, Stephens, Egg, Holliday, Millais, Collins and myself), and as mine was the only direct study of her head, as it was, he would hold it a favour if I would give it him and he in return would give me something of his doing that I might like. At first I resisted stoutly, but finding that it was a serious point with him, and that my refusing would be in some degree an obstacle in the carrying out of his wishes with regard to her (which it would be both selfish and unkind and foolish in the remotest degree to thwart) I at last reluctantly assented to give him the study, the most careful and the most interesting (to me) and which I prize the most I have ever made. He thanked me heartily for my compliance. He gave me real pleasure by telling me that she says I always behaved most kindly to her.

08 Feb 1858. February 8. On the road stopped to see the Princess Royal (age 17) accompanied by her husband, the Prince Frederick of Prussia (age 26), Prince Albert (age 38) and the Prince of Wales (age 16) go by on her departure from England. She was flushed, and her eyes swollen and red and she had evidently been crying. The snow, the first this year, was falling and driving into her face. Yet she kept her veil up and bowed to the throng who lined the roads.

Note. Frederick and Victoria had married on the 25th of January 1858.

08 Feb 1858. February 8. Attended meeting of the Philographic Society at Walter's Studio, 21 Savile Row.

07 Feb 1858. February 7. Gave Burges (in exchange for something he is to do for me) a sketch I made of Llyn Crafuant in N. Wales in the autumn of 1856, which he persists in calling the 7th Hell, as it reminds him of Dante's Inferno. The only alteration I made in it (to suit his fancy) is giving a red flush as of flame in the horizon.

13 Feb 1858. February 13. Miss Cooke came to sit for me. Little Simeon Solomon (age 17) called and stayed a long while and jawed and bored us considerably. Burges came up and I introduced them.

15 Feb 1858. February 15. Miss Varley sat to me. Discovered Burges had sent on to me the Valentine she had sent to him, followed by another. I enclosed them both again in an envelope for her to post to him. Went to a dancing and musical "shine" at Clayton & Bells', 24a Cardington St. Jovial and unceremonious. Some very good singing and playing.

17 Feb 1858. February 17. Proposed by T. F. Marshall and seconded by Chester I was elected to-day a member of the Philographic Society.

19 Feb 1858. February 19. Solomon’s (age 34) weekly re-union. Tea and fish, wine and cake. Much interested with a book of sketches by young Simeon (age 17).