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on taking off a high Head dress in a portrait

One morning a carriage stopped at the Studio door, and two ladies (Mrs Powell the elder of the two, & Mrs Reinochan the younger) the latter with a portrait in her hand. The object of application was to have the very high head dress of hair - Three upright buns of hair some 6 or 8 inches high has been - but then had become unfashionable - Removed - painted out. I explained to the lady that that would not prove an acceptable alteration - unless the canvass was correspondingly cut down - That the frame was the boundary lines - and that when the lofty hair dressing was taken off, the head would appear too low on the canvass and would appear crushed down - missplaced and ridiculous.

The argument had no avail. Would have no new frame and I was peremptorily asked to do it. The lady would take all responsibility. The portrait was a very good one. and painted by a friend - And I respectfully but positively declined to do it excepting as stated - The elderly lady advised taking my advice but the younger whose portrait it was - took it up and left in a huff. As afterwards appeared to go to another artist who was more compliant - Who did it - charged well and sent the picture so altered home. but a short time had elapsed before the parties simmalarly equiped again appeared at Mr C. Studio - The young lady in an especially good humor - all smiles - Who remarked Mr C I am quite ashamed to appear before you [[strikethrough]] opened out [[/strikethrough]] uncovered the altered portrait - And said you see Mr C I had it altered. And I have not had a moments peace in the house since it came back. Husband - Children - friends - all [[?]] laugh at it. Say I look as if I had had an extinguisher put on me and crushed down in the picture. And expect every minute to see me [[strikethrough]] arise [[/strikethrough]] pop up like a cork jumper - I can't stand it any longer and I have called on you to restore it. I saw it had only been painted over with a new "background" which could be easily removed being fresh - and the buns would again appear. Jokingly I remarked - I suppose you will be willing to pay me as much for restoring as you paid the artist for taking off - Certainly - willingly she said - And I promised to do it.  I readily took of the ground - cleaned - revarnished - I sent it home - And was well paid I assure you Poor lady it was not over a year after before she died.  

I painted 6 copies of the picture in "Miniature." Three with the high unfashionable buns. And three without them - but the latter of course properly apportioned on the picture for the change - for the children. Some preferring the one, some the other. And I continued to paint for the family until I relinquished practice.  And many were the pictures I executed for them.

Transcription Notes:
Reinochan Peremptory: permitting no dispute, alternative, or delay; specifically - not providing an opportunity to show cause why one should not comply