Viewing page 84 of 85

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

eyes, & perhaps a slight irregularity was not marked in the lips, caused by early loss of teeth. I took occasion the next day to correct the mouth from my original study; but it was some time before  I could ascertain the defect of the eyes, untill I recollected the impressions I received at the sham battle, where I noted at a distance the shadowy appearance of the General's orbit of vision. The eyes in my Portrait were too prominent, as they are in most portraits of him. I therefore merely glazed them with a filmy shade, by which they appeared more sunken. Some days after this Judge Washington again took me aside, and earnestly recommended me no consideration ever to touch the Picture. any one's criticism - saying - "the other day I thought there was some defect which you mightre,edy; but I was in error, for I find that the Portrait is equally like, whether seen near or far off." I then informed him what I had done.

While the Portrait was at the Capitol, it excited attention to other portraits especiallyone in the possession of Mr. James Young whichwas pronounced a better likeness than mine, tho no one knew who was the Painter of it. On inspection I found it to be one of my experimental, but to me unsatisfactory studies, which I had sold to Mr. MacGurder of Baltimore for the modest sum of 30 dollars. It has recently been bought, for the secretary of State Department, for the more flattering recompense of 250 dollars. 

One of the gratified Visitors was Mrs. Morris Widow of the great financial friend of Washington. She related to me this anecdote. On the memorable occasion of his triumphal entry into New York, after his election to the Presidency, Admiral Peter Parker, of the British Navy - (an uncommonly handsome man) - was her guest. He commended her waum patriotism, and admiration of character of Washington, "but madam" said he, "is it not necessary that he should be s connsidered a handsome man." Just then the procession in Broadway reached her house, the Balcony of which was filled with ladies, whom Washington saluted in his usual polite manner. Sir Peter, advancing to Mrs. Morris acknowledged that he certainly was the finest looking man he had ever seen. Washington spent the evening with Mrs. Morris, and Sir Peter's opinion was there fully confirmed. 

Washington as Engineer & Military Commander, spending much of his time on horseback was considered an accomplished and elegant rider. Judge Thatcher described him as incomprably majestic. After his retirement from public life, his retreat at Mount Vernon was disturbed by visitors all anxious to see his favorite White Horse to relive himself from this annoyance, he proposed to my father, for whom he always entertained the kindest friendship to receive the Horse as part of his museum, where the public curiosity might be satisfied. Not possessing a convenient, arrangement for this purpose, my father declined the offer, at a later period it would have been accepted when my Brother Titian had become master of Sculptural excellence in mounting animals perfectly to resemble life, which he learned from Waterton the naturalist, and might have been employed on the death of this noble specimen of the Horse. 

On a visit to Europe in 1829, I took my Portrait of Washington with me, I enjoyed the satisfaction it gave to many distinguished individuals in in Naples, Rome, Florence, Paris  London. It was exhibited in the Royal Academy of Florence with a Portrait of Horatio Grenough who was then much depressed in spirits, but I encouraged him to persevere with the assurance  

Transcription Notes:
some misspellings, make sure to transcribe accurately even if the spelling isn't.