Letters upon the art of miniature painting

Letter V

Mr. Deville to Miss Howard.

The difficulties to be surmounted in order to make a proper use of colours in miniature-painting. Notice of having sent all the necessary materials, to which is joined the sketch of an old man’s head.

The manner of whitening, polishing, and pouncing the ivory. Use of the pencils for sketching. 22

Letter VI

Mr. Deville to Miss Howard.

Answer to the narrative of the journey. Description of the different pencils, and their use. Manner of sketching. Use of the scratcher allowed in few cases. Description of the colours employed in the sketch of an old man’s head ... 29

Letter VII

Miss Howard to Mr. Deville.

The opinion formed of her first attempt, which she sends to her master 36

Contents

VU

Page

Letter VIII

Mr. Deville to Miss Hotvard.

His observations upon wbat has been sent to him ; sends a woman’s head. Indication of the colours to be used for the flesh, the hair, the linen, and a back-ground in transparent colour. He observes that these rules relate only to the model sent ; that she ought to avoid a systematic style of colouring. Second observations upon the first sketch 39

Letter IX

3Ir. Deville to Miss Hoivard.

Use and advantage of body-colour. Manner of cutting and pasting the ivory. The distance, in a picture, at which the head should be from the frame. Application of these principles in the execution of the portrait of a man, in which the drapery and back-ground are painted with body-colours. Use of the scratcher for body-colour. Manner of doing the hair, and touching the lights with body-colour 47

Letter X

3liss Howard to Mr. Deville.

Acquaintance made between her father and Monsieur de Saint Remi, who is in possession of miniatures by different masters. Sends some of her painting. 57 via

CONTENTS.

Pack

LETTER XL

Mr. Deville, to Mis& Howard.

The danger of too highly polishing her work, and the advantage of painting boldly. Inconvenience of using too much water in the body-colours. Announces having sent a letter of introduction to Monsieur de Saint Reini to her father. Advantage to be derived from copying from Isabey ; manner of Augustin, and that of Saint .... 60

Letter XII

Mr. Deville to Miss Howard.

Use of the magnifying glass, and of gum arable. Manner of executing light hair, and of representing certain draperies, such as velvet and satins of different colours. Manner of doing ffilding in body-colours and in dotting. New instructions for the execution of linen, lace, and gauze. Method of representing pearls upon the flesh, hair, or upon drapery in body-colour, &c 66

Letter XIII

Mtss Hoiimrd to Mr. Deville.

Confession of the evil consequences of having been too precipitate ; requests Mr Deville’s opinion of the style of painting in England. Expresses a wish to attempt painting in aquarelle . ... 76

CONTENTS.

IX

Page

Miss Howard to Mr. Deville.

Sends a miniature other mother, ct.pied from a portrait in oils 13, ^

Letter XIX

Mr. Deville to Miss Howard.

Sketch of a portrait from nature. Description of the colours which ought to be employed. Adjustment of the drapery. Execution of the back-ground. Historical pictures. Composition of groups. Necessity of knowing perspective, in order to find the proper places for all the accessories. Precautions to be taken before executing a composition. 138

Letter XX

Miss Howard to Mr. Deville.

Arrival of Monsieur de Saint Remi at the Chateau de la Bourdaisi^re . . . • 157

LETTER XXL

Mr. Deville to Miss Howard.

Primitive colours, and their combinations. Use which the ancients made of them. Discovery of new substances made by modern painters. Advantage of a palette, but little complicated. Man-

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ncr of laying the colour upon the flesh palette, and that of body-colour. The different substances which may be used for painting in miniature. Choice of the ivory and brushes . ... 163

Letter XXII

Monsieur de Saint Remi to Mr. Deville.

Account of the success of a portrait from nature, painted by Miss Howard, and announces her intended return to Paris

LETTERS

UPON

THE ART OF

MINIATURE PAINTING.

LETTER I. From, the Author to his Friend

Paris, 1st October, 1822.

It is to you, ray dear Mayaud, that I owe tlie inestimable advantage of knowing Madame de S — R. The amiability of her manners, and the noble frankness of her respectable father, charmed me at first sight; and notwithstanding the repugnance with which I ever form new acquaintances, 1 felt instantly attracted by the kind attentions they shewed me. I should therefore have only thanks to return you, if in this circumstance you had

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•2 consulted my true interests more than vour iriendship tor me, which has induced you to describe me to this family as a man of superior merit, and to say, that I added to a perfect knowledge of my profession, an incalculable number of other qualities Avhich nature has been very far from bestowing upon me. Until now I had ever considered your talent for likenesses as unrivalled ; but, without offence, my good friend, the picture you have drawn of me has totally failed. To make amends, I grant that you are persuasive, for I have vainly said, and unfortunately proved, that I was undeserving the place which you had procured me in the good opinion of these agreeable foreigners; they were determined not to alter it, at least apparently, and whether I would or not, I became the master of the daughter, the adviser, what do I say? the oracle of the father on many subjects with which I am totally unacquainted; and what is still worse, they went into the country, and I was forced to correspond with them.

You know by experience, my dear Mayaud, that I find it easier to express and prove my

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aitachinent, than to write it; but what is not possible to a fascinating woman"? Her sweet influence is extended over all hearts, as well as over all professions : she encourages genius, adds grace to wit, strengthens thought, and, in the words of a modern author, who from studying them unceasingly, can best appreciate them,

Eviter de la femme et le clianne et I'empire,

1 have corresponded regularly for fifteen months ; they are now returned to Paris as good, as obliging, and happier than ever. It is to them tiiat I am indebted for the realization of a project which otherwise I should never have had the time or courage to execute.

Influenced by events unnecessary to mention here, to turn your thoughts seriously to an art, which till then you had considered merely as an object of amusement, you have frequently ex* pressed your regret at not having lo put into the hands of your pupils a simple but comprehensive method, which might, during the absence of the master, direct them in the study of miniature-painting: how useful this might B 2 prove, I feel equally convinced with yourself. This art has arrived at such a state of perfection, possesses so many attractions for all, particularly females, who appear generally so much inclined to cultivate it, when after the season of more turbulent pleasures, they, like the flowers of spring, embellish the country by their presence ; that, to an artist more accustomed than I am to merit their approbation, would have insured a continuation of their favour. A conviction of my own inability, added to the hope of seeing our intentions accomplished by a hand more in the habit of writing and giving precepts, has ever rendered me unwilling to publish mine. However, the success I have happily met with in forming some excellent pupils, the indulgence which has been shewn to my humble productions, and the astonishing progress which Madame de S — R. has made under my instructions, determined me to request her permission to publish our correspondence; to which she has consented, on condition that her name should remain unknown to the public. I have therefore seized this opportunity to bestow upon a certain Mr. Deville many honourable

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and flattering compliments offered in this collection, but which I acknowledge myself totally incapable of justifying. With this single caution, I give these letters to the printer, ambitious only of the utility of which, I trust, they may be productive. The incidents foreign to my subject occupying but little room, have not been suppressed; from the impossibility of doing so without new-modelling the whole correspondence — an undertaking incompatible with the variety of my daily occupations. I have confined myself merely to the instruction of a young person already acquainted with drawing, in the easiest and shortest method of painting in miniature. This work, therefore, can only be useful to those who have made some progress in drawing. Neither must it be expected, that it should prove a treatise upon painting in general : there are already sufficient works of merit published upon this art, from the time of Lionardo da Vinci down to the present day. There is no doubt but, that like many others, with the assistance of compilations, I might in an introductory discourse have repeated those general rules and precepts, known to all, followed by so few. This display of erudition might have dazzled some, wearied others, but would have been useful to none.

My only ambition is to render service to young artists, and to answer, to the extent of my ability, the many applications which have been made to me by the amateurs both of Paris and London : on this account I have had this collection translated into English, in order that it may appear at the same period in both cities.

The high and well-merited reputation which you have acquired in England, makes me particularly desirous of obtaining your approbation ; and the friendship that unites us has induced me to dedicate to you a work, written without design, published without pretension, and to which, without having foreseen it, I find I have produced something resembling a preface.

MINIATURE painting.

Letter II

Miss E. Howard to Mr. Deville at Paris.

Chateau de Beaui’egard, near Tours, 5th May, 1821.

I FEAR, my dear Mr. Deville, that you have more than once accused me of negligence, perhaps^ of ingratitude : that I may to you have appeared guilty of the first fault is possible; but the heart of Ellen could not support a suspicion of the second.

The difficulty of expressing myself in a foreign language, the many amusements and occupations which a residence in Paris offers to a stranger, have not allowed me to become well known to you ; still, amidst the numberless acquaintances which my situation in society presents to me, there is not one which I have appreciated so highly as yours, of w'hich I flatter myself the future will convince you. Your attentions, and the particular kindness of which you have given me so many proofs, can never be effaced from my memory. How often have 1 regretted the not having been earlier known to you! How great must have been the advantages derived from precepts such as yours, dictated by the zeal, the clearness, and the information which characterises your heart and understanding ! I cannot express the charm which 1 found in listening to your discussions with my father ; the justness of your reasoning, the truth of your demonstrations, and, above all, the quick and persuasive power by which you bring over to your opinions those who at first appear most strongly opposed to them, struck me with admiration and delight.

You will pardon me this well-known quotation, never so well applied. These two verses are the only obligation that I am willing to owe to this cruel satirist, whom I have just been persuaded to read a second time, without much increasing my enthusiasm for him : he only addresses himself to the understanding.

MINIATURE PAINTING.

But to return to you, my dear Mr. Deville, whose language and ideas are ever in unison with my feelings : I will confess that I have delayed writing to you till now, because, more habituated to speak my sentiments, I have not as yet been able to arrange my thoughts sufficiently to submit them to you ; although the sedentary and retired manner in which we are living here, ought to have assisted me in classing them. But amidst recollections of the past and plans for the future, which alternately strike my imagination, I am at a loss how to employ the present ! I feel the necessity of an occupation, a pursuit — in short, I am ambitious of success in something ; but alone, without a guide, without emulation, how can I expect the accomplishment of my wishes?

Born with an ardent imagination, I have pas. sionately loved the arts from niy earliest years. An intuitive taste has frequently caused me to neglect the amusements natural to my age, that I might admire the productions of genius. Music transported me ; painting, sculpture, interested me to such an excess, that I often tormented my governess with questions which she was B 5 greatly embarrassed to answer: this j>oor Mrs, Andrews was endowed with more goodness than genius; she, therefore, greatly preferred listening patiently while I exercised my fingers on the piano, than to conduct me through my father’s picture-gallery. In consequence of this, I could at twelve years old play all Cramer’s most difficult pieces, and accompany myself with some degree of taste. My parents, enchanted with my success, flattered my vanity, and I was looked upon by all their intimate friends as a little virtuoso. The wandering life which we have led since the peace has not allowed me to j)erfect my execution : my taste is formed, but my voice has lost its power, having been forced too early. The result of this is, that I love good music too well to take delight in inv own ; besides, the admiration obtained by the execution of a brilliant lesson is too dearly purchased at the expense of practising it every day for six weeks together to possess any charms for me ; while, on the contrary, I feel all the ardour necessary to induce me to follow', how ever distantly, in your steps. I w'ill again take uj> my pencils, possess myself of a brush, w hich

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in niY lonely situation your instructions can atone enable me to employ. Have then the kind indulgence, dear Mr. Deville, to aid me with your advice, and trace for me the path which I must pursue. The miniature, the kind; of painting in which you excel, has been that which most attracted me. I have often heard you hold a different language, but your productions, while charming my sight, obtained the victory over your reasoning. I trust then, that you will put aside your Raphaels, your Michel Angelos, your Rembrandts, your Vandykes ; and tell me what the Isabeys, the Augustins, and the Guerins have done to arrive at the height of perfection in drawing, taste, and colouring, which distinguish their works. I would willingly, in giving you such a task, insure the success of your endeavours, but I can only assure you of the sincere gratitude of her who will ever consider herself honoured by the title of

Your respectful pupil,

Ellen Howard.

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Letter III

Mr. Deville to Miss Hoivard.

Paris, 11th May, 1821.

You will tell me, amiable Ellen, that my character is much changed since your departure ; no matter, since you are desirous of receiving my lessons, I must begin by finding fault, not on account of your not writing sooner — that was scarcely possible, but for not giving me the slightestdetail respectingyourjourney, or naming the place of your abode : you had an extensive subject on which to exercise your imagination.

The borders of the Loire abound in picturesque views and gothic monuments, which bring to mind interesting recollections : you loie painting, therefore must learn to paint with your pen, if you expect me to teach you to paint with a pencil. You but slightly mention your father ; indeed, were I not acquainted with the goodness of your heart, and your attachment to hitn, I

MINIATURE PAINTING.

should be inclined to accuse you, if not of indifference, certainly of negligence towards him.

1 will not, however, run the risk of being accused of the same fault, therefore should you in your letters forget to name him, in reading mine he will at least hav'e the proof (hat I sometimes think of him. I am quite assured that you ' make no mystery to him of our correspondence ; my grey hairs in the one case, amj your good principles in the other, are my reasons for thinking so, and preclude the possibility of its being otherwise. Before I begin my subject or answer the scientific part of your letter, I must have another quarrel with you ; it is the only resource of persons of my age with those of your’s, until they have had the courage to sacrifice all pretensions ; for if they attempt not to please, they are glad, at least, to interest ; they therefore render their approbation more difficult of attainment, in the hope of increasing its value. You will not now be surprised at my blaming your manner of expressing yourself on the subject of music ; that art, always enchanting, is a thousand times more attractive when cultivated by a woman ! If you really love painting

II yon must love music, as they arc two sisters who equally receive their greatest charm from harmony. It is doubtless possible that you may be destined to attain a higher degree of perfection in the one art than in the other, and, if I did not fear to derogate from my character of censor, I should say that unless you could succeed in painting like Albane or Corregio, it were better to content yourself by remaining a second St. Cecilia.

But enough of complimefits and of old masters : you will tell me that the first are unbecoming at my age, and the second uninteresting to you. Permit me, however, sweet young friend, to remind you sometimes of the latter, as it is from them (following the example of the modern masters whom you so justly admire,) that we must imbibe the lessons which enabled them to rise to perfection in their art. We must always look beyond our aim to insure success. If the present>age possess some advantage over former ones, it is to the labours, the researches, and the heroic perseverance of those who preceded us in the career of arts, to whom we are indebted ; and as we are every where surrounded

MINIATURE PAINTING.

by tlie monuments and master-pieces which evince their taste and genius, let us learn to admire them, that we may be worthy of imitating them.

However far removed these general considerations may be from the sphere to which you appear desirous to confine yourself, you cannot be too strongly impressed with the necessity of choosing a good road, however short the progress you may possibly make in it. 1 am ignorant of the length of the career which you may be destined to pursue, but I will do all in my power to prevent your ever being obliged to retrograde. Your success in draw'ing, and the taste which I have discovered in the copies you have made of the models 1 put into your hands, afford me the strongest hopes of you : I shall, however, expect greater proofs of docility at this distance, than when w'e were nearer to each other.

I will confess that I have sometimes on purpose left you to stray, in order to find out whether you could by yourself discover your faults: this plan succeeded, and you have learned to distrust that dangerous facility

I against which you cannot be too much upon your guard, when not overlooked by some one capable of cautioning you . in time. The period will come when I shall be able to allow more latitude to your imagination ; but till then, you must submit to follow the exact rules I am at present under the necessity of prescribing to you. 1 shall even be forced to enter into details which at first you will consider dry and insignificant, but of which you will one day feel the importance. Whatever be the elegance or magnificence of an edifice, for its construction the stone must be sought for in the same quarry, the wood in the same forest, which would produce the like materials to build the humblest cottage. Do not be astonished then, amiable Miss Howard, if I employ your pretty hands in preparing the dull colours as well as the brighter tints; if I arm you with a sharp instrument, not to wound or kill, but to polish the ivory ; with a file not intended to wrench a lock, but which will assist you in giving your picture the form you wish. Neither must you always paint Cupids; on the contrary, I shall advise you to attempt with firm strokes to express the strong

I features which characterize a man in the decline of life, in order to suppress the propensity natural to young persons of your sex to sacrifice the form and vigour of expression to grace and colouring.

Before we enter into any farther detail, I am desirous of knowing whether you have every thing necessary for painting, as you do not say any thing upon the subject ; I shall, therefore, wait your answer to send whatever you may require, and explain the manner of making use of it. If I am obliged to defer this important matter until my next letter, I will no longer delay expressing the satisfaction which, upon the whole, yours afforded me, and of the pleasure with which I shall enter into the most minute explanations. Be assured of my sincerity, and convinced of the esteem — dare I say the friendship ? of your most humble servant.

Letter IV

Miss Ellen to Mr. Deville.

Chateau de Beauregard, May22d, J821.

It is ill vain that you aft’ect to be cross, my dear Mr. Deville, the amiability of your character still shines through the covering under which you would willingly hide it. I rather suspect that the interest you so kindly take in me, induces you to put on an appearance oT severity, in order to enforce my docility. Be more just to poor Ellen, and in knowing her better be assured that your precepts will prove oracles to her.

To commence by showing my obedience, I hasten to inform you, that my father’s health improved on the journey, notwithstanding a singular occurrence which was very near disturbing the usual sweetness and equality of his temper towards me. For the first time in my life, I

MINIATURE PAINTING.

allowed myself to think that he could be in the wrong ; although as a dutiful daughter, I submitted to his will, and promised to be more ])nident in future. It was, however, an affair of little importance, as you shall judge by the sequel.

We had quitted Paris four days, but had gone no farther than Blois, by which you will perceive that we travel slowly. My father w'ent out to visit the old castle ; when, impatient for his return, and desirous of seeing something of the towm, I prevailed upon Mrs. Andrews to accompany me in a little walk to meet him. In passing through the adjacent streets, the hesitation of our manner, and our travelling dresses, betrayed to the inhabitants of Blois, the country of which we are natives ; insensibly we became surrounded, and, but for the prompt and actii’e assistance of a young man of a most engaging exterior, whose presence seemed to check the curious observers who molestetl us, we should have had much difficulty in returning to the hotel, without meeting with some disagreeable adventure. Our unknown protector discreetly retired the moment we arrived there, notwithstanding our efforts to detain him. My father came in soon after, when I frankly related all that had passed. I know not whether his pride was offended at being under an obligation to a stranger, or that he really blamed my conduct; it is certain that he openly reproved it : I cried the whole evening, which was very natural. The next morning he was kinder than ever; did not mention the adventure of tlie day before, but showed me a thousand delicate attentions. I should have been extremely wrong had I appeared to remember it, when he was thinking only of me, and by the most tender solicitude insuring my gratitude. He has chosen for our residence a delightful habitation very near the pretty city of Tours. He fears my being dull here, but this kind father is greatly mistaken, for where he is, Ellen must ever be the happiest of daughters. He is much pleased at the idea of employing my leisure hours in painting ; and much regrets that I did not commence this study during my stay in Paris. He desires me to offer you his sincere thanks for your kindness in promising to assist me with your advice: as

MINIATURE PAINTING. .

for myself, I cannot sufficiently express niy gratitude, or my impatience to make a first attempt.

Send me then, I entreat you, by the first conveyance, every thing necessary, as I have nothing here but pencils : in the mean time I will reflect upon your letter, the morality and the sentiments of which I greatly admire ; and have, even by way of making reparation to music, played “ God save tkc King" several times to Mrs. Andrews ; still you must lose no time in enabling me to commence painting, for I dream only of brushes, colours, palettes, &c.

Adieu, my dear Mr. Deville ; I will have no humble servants at the conclusion of your letters ; do not be afraid of honouring by your friendship, her, w'ho is too happy to add to the title of pupil that of your friend

Ellen.

2-2

LETTERS L.PON

Letter V

Mr. Deville to Miss l^llen.

Paris, May 27th, 1821.

To comply with your wish of acquii ing instruction, charming Ellen, I will in this letter immediately enter upon the subject that seems to interest you so much, and tell you that some persons, who only judge of the merit and difficulty of a picture by its size, pronounce, without hesitation, miniature-painting to be easier than any other. I am far from being of that opinion : on the contrary, I maintain that a miniature-painter, who wishes to arrive at perfection, has more difficulties to overcome than a painter in oil who confines himself to portrait-painting. The same knowledge of drawing and colouring is required for each, but the colours for miniature-painting being more difficult to use, certain effects are often pro-

MINIATURE PAINTING.

fluced at once in oil by one stroke of the pencil, which in miniature can be brought out only by care and labour. This will prove to you, dear Miss Ellen, how essential it is to be well acquainted w'ith what we undertake, so as not to employ colour indiscriminately in the hope of being favoured by Fortune, who so often laughs at the efforts of man ! If a miniature-painter were to trust the success of his work to her, he would be nearly as mad as one, who, shaking together a great number of printing-letters, shoidd hope, solely by that means, to become one day the author of a treatise upon philosophy or jurisprudence. With respect to us, we will follow a different method, directing our attention to become well acquainted with the necessary materials. We will make use of them at first with diffidence, and when by habit and experience w'e shall have acquired more confidence, we will not be afraid to work more boldly, without however losing sight of moderation. You will find in the package I sent you by yesterday’s coach, every thing requisite for painting : I have added to it the outline of a head, and on another sheet the rough sketch of the same head. Before you begin, yon must know how to prepare the ivory, which is never sold in a state sufficiently polished or white. The process of whitening must be done by placing it on a moderately-heated oven, or in the sun, which will warp one side ; turn it then on the other, and w'hen it has the degree of whiteness you require, take it out, that it may not become too dry; for in that case it loses its transparency, and is apt to split when cut. This operation finished, you must proceed to one of more consequence and difficulty, and which requires practice: it is the polishing. Some painters use a large scratcher ; others, an instrument with a blade three or four inches long, and of a triangular shape. To either of these I prefer the use of a razor : to benefit completely by it, you must be sure it have not the smallest notch in it, or that it be not too sharp. Open it so that the back part of the blade touches the handle ; in that way you will use it easily to scrape your ivory from angle to angle. When you have thus polished the whole, begin again from the contrary angles, to be quite assured there remains no traces of the saw upon the side you wish to

MINIATURE PAINTING.

paint. 1 think I see you, good Ellen, in all the trouble of this process, of which I have no doubt you will acquit yourself with address and skill, although with a little impatience.

You say to yourself, might not this be purchased ready prepared, or done so to order ? yes ; often, but not always : besides, to be able to judge whether a thing be well done, you must know how to do it yourself. Continue therefore with courage your little undertakings, sweet Ellen, taking from out of that chest the bandbox, which does not contain ribands, although resembling one for that use ; open it ; what you see there is pounce-stone, pulverized and passed through a silk sieve. Place your ivory in the middle of the bottom of the box, holding it firm with one hand, while with the other you take that small bit of paper in the corner of the same box : use it to rub the pounce on the side of the ivory you have polished ; being always careful to do it with a circular movement.