Viewing page 8 of 56

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

One morning on Inmans coming to the Studio - He proposed that I should paint mins as he was tired of it and had all the practice in Oil which he wanted, now says he frame the picture and hung it on the wall beside mine. His price was 30$ for a min - and put your price at 25. And I will raise my prices asked this style 50 his specimen was one of Mrs Inman. I did as desired and was very thankful for this opportunity as I supposed to earn money. People called and examined and invariably chose the 50$ style. I got nothing - tho I painted the greater portion of the 50 odd pictures for Inman for which he paid me. Another - One morning Inman on his coming in - said Cummings I am determined to do no more damn min painting - Take down my specimen and let yours remain at 50 Dll price- I did so, and had employment at once - no one objecting to the specimen or price- And we then formed the firm of Inman & Cummings portrait & min Painters the 2nd only of its kind- Inman receiving half of the min department that arrangement continued some five years or until his removal to Philadelphia- tho I did not relinquish my oil painting and did much for Inman- It made me a miniature painter- Ingham likewise relinquishing and sending his min work to me both conditional that I would not exhibit or present myself professionally before the public as a portrait/oil painter. Tho I did so paint- but did not exhibit such work

(on the slant)
The 2 firm specimens a rather singular instance of the effect or indiscrimination of persons no judgement on Art as when the specimen stood at 25 I got nothing- but at 50 it was not only acceptable but double the price readily given and the work approved-- I however soon substituted it by a min of Henry Inman and a female head of Miss OBrien Mrs Inmans sister- both of which were much praised by the press and brought me favor & practice. It was I will say customary at that time with all the Artist- to have a specimen on the walls and a card of prices on the table. Some also have tried a window in Bway and publicly so exposed their works & prices- but that was tabooed by the genuine blood artist- and at once towed them to the Buddingtonian School so called from the man doing so  The worst type in the city and Buddington was his name.  And bad enough they were

Transcription Notes:
min = miniature paintings Hats off to previous transcribers! Uncle!