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painter glisten。 'Really；' said he； when my brother had concluded；
'it was very kind to think of me。 I am not very fond of painting
portraits； but a mayor is a mayor； and there is something grand in
that idea of the Norman arch。 I'll go； moreover； I am just at this
moment confoundedly in need of money； and when you knocked at the
door； I don't mind telling you； I thought it was some dun。 I don't
know how it is； but in the capital they have no taste for the
heroic； they will scarce look at a heroic picture； I am glad to
hear that they have better taste in the provinces。 I'll go； when
shall we set off？'
Thereupon it was arranged between the painter and my brother that
they should depart the next day but one； they then began to talk of
art。 'I'll stick to the heroic；' said the painter； 'I now and then
dabble in the comic； but what I do gives me no pleasure； the comic
is so low； there is nothing like the heroic。 I am engaged here on
a heroic picture；' said he； pointing to the canvas； 'the subject is
〃Pharaoh dismissing Moses from Egypt；〃 after the last plague … the
death of the first…born； it is not far advanced … that finished
figure is Moses'： they both looked at the canvas； and I； standing
behind； took a modest peep。 The picture； as the painter said； was
not far advanced； the Pharaoh was merely in outline； my eye was； of
course； attracted by the finished figure； or rather what the
painter had called the finished figure； but； as I gazed upon it； it
appeared to me that there was something defective … something
unsatisfactory in the figure。 I concluded； however； that the
painter； notwithstanding what he had said； had omitted to give it
the finishing touch。 'I intend this to be my best picture；' said
the painter； 'what I want now is a face for Pharaoh； I have long
been meditating on a face for Pharaoh。' Here； chancing to cast his
eye upon my countenance； of whom he had scarcely taken any manner
of notice； he remained with his mouth open for some time。 'Who is
this？' said he at last。 'Oh； this is my brother； I forgot to
introduce him。' 。 。 。
We presently afterwards departed； my brother talked much about the
painter。 'He is a noble fellow；' said my brother； 'but； like many
other noble fellows； has a great many enemies； he is hated by his
brethren of the brush … all the land and water scape painters hate
him … but； above all； the race of portrait…painters； who are ten
times more numerous than the other two sorts； detest him for his
heroic tendencies。 It will be a kind of triumph to the last； I
fear； when they hear he has condescended to paint a portrait；
however； that Norman arch will enable him to escape from their
malice … that is a capital idea of the watchmaker； that Norman
arch。'
I spent a happy day with my brother。 On the morrow he went again
to the painter； with whom he dined； I did not go with him。 On his
return he said； 'The painter has been asking a great many questions
about you； and expressed a wish that you would sit to him as
Pharaoh； he thinks you would make a capital Pharaoh。' 'I have no
wish to appear on canvas；' said I； 'moreover he can find much
better Pharaohs than myself； and； if he wants a real Pharaoh； there
is a certain Mr。 Petulengro。' 'Petulengro？' said my brother； 'a
strange kind of fellow came up to me some time ago in our town； and
asked me about you； when I inquired his name； he told me
Petulengro。 No； he will not do； he is too short； by the bye； do
you not think that figure of Moses is somewhat short？' And then it
appeared to me that I had thought the figure of Moses somewhat
short； and I told my brother so。 'Ah！' said my brother。
On the morrow my brother departed with the painter for the old
town； and there the painter painted the mayor。 I did not see the
picture for a great many years； when； chancing to be at the old
town； I beheld it。
The original mayor was a mighty； portly man； with a bull's head；
black hair； body like that of a dray horse； and legs and thighs
corresponding； a man six foot high at the least。 To his bull's
head； black hair； and body the painter had done justice； there was
one point； however； in which the portrait did not correspond with
the original … the legs were disproportionably short； the painter
having substituted his own legs for those of the mayor； which when
I perceived I rejoiced that I had not consented to be painted as
Pharaoh； for； if I had； the chances are that he would have served
me in exactly a similar way as he had served Moses and the mayor。
Short legs in a heroic picture will never do； and； upon the whole；
I think the painter's attempt at the heroic in painting the mayor
of the old town a decided failure。 If I am now asked whether the
picture would have been a heroic one provided the painter had not
substituted his own legs for those of the mayor … I must say； I am
afraid not。 I have no idea of making heroic pictures out of
English mayors； even with the assistance of Norman arches； yet I am
sure that capital pictures might be made out of English mayors； not
issuing from Norman arches； but rather from the door of the
'Checquers' or the 'Brewers Three。' The painter in question had
great comic power； which he scarcely ever cultivated； he would fain
be a Rafael； which he never could be； when he might have been
something quite as good … another Hogarth； the only comic piece
which he ever presented to the world being something little
inferior to the best of that illustrious master。 I have often
thought what a capital picture might have been made by my brother's
friend； if； instead of making the mayor issue out of the Norman
arch； he had painted him moving under the sign of the 'Checquers；'
or the 'Three Brewers；' with mace … yes； with mace； … the mace
appears in the picture issuing out of the Norman arch behind the
mayor； … but likewise with Snap； and with whiffler； quart pot； and
frying…pan； Billy Blind and Owlenglass； Mr。 Petulengro and
Pakomovna； … then； had he clapped his own legs upon the mayor； or
any one else in the concourse； what matter？ But I repeat that I
have no hope of making heroic pictures out of English mayors； or；
indeed； out of English figures in general。 England may be a land
of heroic hearts； but it is not； properly； a land of heroic
figures； or heroic posture…making。 Italy 。 。 。 what was I going to
say about Italy？
CHAPTER XXXIX
No authority whatever … Interference … Wondrous farrago … Brandt
and Struensee … What a life！ … The hearse … Mortal relics … Great
poet … Fashion and fame … What a difference … Oh； beautiful … Good
for nothing。
AND now once more to my pursuits； to my Lives and Trials。 However
partial at first I might be to these lives and trials； it was not
long before they became regular trials to me； owing to the whims
and caprices of the p