an autobiography-第10节
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ring abuses of the State； led him to speak out his mind freely on the subject。 Edinburgh was then under the reign of the Dundases； and scarcely anybody dared to mutter his objections to anything perpetrated by the 〃powers that be。〃 The city was then a much smaller place than it is now。 There was more gossip； and perhaps more espionage； among the better classes； who were few in number。 At all events； my father's frank opinions on political subjects began to be known。 He attended Fox dinners。 He was intimate with men of known reforming views。 All this was made the subject of general talk。 Accordingly； my father received many hints from aristocratic and wealthy personages； that 〃if this went on any longer they would withdraw from him their employment。〃 My father did not alter his course； it was right and honest。 But he suffered nevertheless。 His income from portrait painting fell off rapidly。
At length he devoted himself to landscape painting。 It was a freer and more enjoyable life。 Instead of painting the faces of those who were perhaps without character or attractiveness； he painted the fresh and ever…beautiful face of nature。 The field of his employment in this respect was almost inexhaustible。 His artistic talent in this delightful branch of art was in the highest sense congenial to his mind and feelings； and in course of time the results of his new field of occupation proved thoroughly satisfactory。 In fact； men of the highest rank with justice entitled him the 〃Father of landscape painting in Scotland。〃
＇Image＇ No。 47 York Place； Edinburgh
At the same time； when changing his branch of art； he opened a class in his own house forgiving practical instruction in the art of landscape painting。 He removed his house and studio from St。 James's Square to No。 47 York Place。 There was at the upper part of this house a noble and commodious room。 There he held his class。 The house was his own； and was built after his own designs。 A splendid prospect was seen from the upper windows； and especially from the Belvidere； which he had constructed on the summit of the roof。 The view extended from Stirling in the west to the Bass Rock in the east。 In fine summer evenings the sun was often seen setting behind Ben Lomond and the more conspicuous of the Perthshire mountains。
My father did not confine himself to landscape painting； or to the instruction of his classes。 He was an all…round man。 He had something of the Universal about him。 He was a painter； an architect； and a mechanic。 Above all； he possessed a powerful store of common sense。 Of course； I am naturally a partial judge of my father's character； but this I may say； that during my experience of over seventy years I have never known a more incessantly industrious man。 His hand and mind were always at work from morn till night。 During the time that he was losing his business in portrait painting； he set to work and painted scenery for the theatres。 The late David Robertshimself a scene painter of the highest charactersaid that his style was founded upon that of Nasmyth。* ＇footnote。。。 David Roberts； R；A。； in his Autobiography； gives the following recollections of Alexander Nasmyth： 〃In 1819 I commenced my career as principal scene painter in the Theatre Royal； Glasgow。 This theatre was immense in its size and appointmentsin magnitude exceeding Drury Lane and Covent Garden。 The stock scenery had been painted by Alexander Nasmyth； and consisted of a series of pictures far surpassing anything of the kind I had ever seen。 These included chambers； palaces； streets； landscapes； and forest scenery。 One； I remember particularly； was the outside of a Norman castle； and another of a cottage charmingly painted； and of which I have a sketch。 But the act scene； which was a view on the Clyde looking towards the Highland mountains with Dumbarton Castle in the middle distance； was such a combination of magnificent scenery； so wonderfully painted； that it excited universal admiration。 These productions I studied incessantly； and on them my style； if I have any； was originally founded。〃 。。。＇
Stanfield was another of his friends。 On one occasion Stanfield showed him his sketch…book； observing that he wished to form a style of his own。 〃Young man；〃 said Nasmyth； 〃there's but one style an artist should endeavour to attain； and that is the style of nature； the nearer you can get to that the better。〃
My father was greatly interested in the architectural beauty of his native city； and he was professionally consulted by the authorities about the laying out of the streets of the New Town。 The subject occupied much of his time and thought； especially when resting from the mental fatigue arising from a long sitting at the easel。 It was his regular practice to stroll about where the building work was in progress； or where new roads were being laid out； and carefully watch the proceedings。 This was probably due to the taste which he had inherited from his forebearsmore especially from his father； who had begun the buildings of the New Town。 My father took pleasure in modelling any improvement that occurred to him； and in discussing the subject with the architects and builders who were professionally engaged in the works。 His admirable knack of modelling the contour of the natural surface of the ground； and applying it to the proposed new roads or new buildings； was striking and characteristic。 His efforts in this direction were so thoroughly disinterested that those in office were all the more anxious to carry out his views。 He sought for no reward； but his excellent advice was not unrecognised。 In testimony of the regard which the Magistrates of Edinburgh had for his counsel and services； they presented him in 1815 with a sum of #200； together with a most complimentary letter acknowledging the value of his disinterested advice。 It was addressed to him under cover； directed to 〃Alexander Nasmyth； Architect。〃
He was； indeed； not unworthy of the name。 He was the architect of the Dean Bridge； which spans the deep valley of the Water of Leith； north…west of the New Town。 Sir John Nesbit； the owner of the property north of the stream； employed my father to make a design for the extension of the city to his estate。 The result was the construction of the Dean Bridge； and the roads approaching it from both sides。 The Dean Estate was thus rendered as easy and convenient to reach as any of the level streets of Edinburgh。 The construction of the bridge was superintended by the late James Jardine； C。E。 Mr Telford was afterwards called upon to widen the bridge。 He threw out parapets on each side； but they did not improve the original design。
＇Image＇ St Bernard's Well
From the Dean Bridge another of my father's architectural buildings may be seen； at St。 Bernard's Well。 It was constructed at the instance of his friend Lord Gardenstone。 The design consists of a graceful circular temple； built over a spring of mineral water； which issues from the rock below。 It was dedicated to Hygeia； the Goddess of Health。 The whole of the details are beautifully finished； and the basement of the design will be admired by every true artist。 It is regarded as a great ornament； and is thoroughly in keeping with the beauty of the surrounding scenery。
Shortly after the death of Lord Nelson it was proposed to erect a monument to his memory on the Calton Hill。 My father supplied a design； which was laid before the Monument Committee。 It was so much approved that the required sum was rapidly subscribed。 But as the estimated cost of this erection was found slightly to exceed the amount subscribed； a nominally cheaper design was privately adopted。 It was literally a job。 The vulgar； churn…like monument was thus thrust on the public and actually erected； and there it stands to this day； a piteous sight to beholders。 It was eventually found greatly to exceed in cost the amount of the estimate for my father's design。 I give a sketch of my father's memorial； and I am led to do this because it is erroneously alleged that he was the architect of the present inverted spy glass； called 〃Nelson's Monument〃
＇Image＇ Nelson's Monument as it should have been。
Then； with respect to my father's powers as a mechanic。 This was an inherited faculty； and I leave my readers to infer from the following pages whether I have not had my fair share of this inheritance。 Besides his painting room； my father had a workroom fitted up with all sorts of mechanical tools。 It was one of his greatest pleasures to occupy himself there as a relief from sitting at the easel； or while within doors from the inclemency of the weather。 The walls and shelves of his workroom were crowded with a multitude of artistic and ingenious mechanical objects； nearly all of which were the production of his own hands。 Many of them were associated with the most eventful incidents in his life。 He only admitted his most intimate friends； or such as could understand and appreciate the variety of objects connected with art and mechanism； to his workroom。 His natural taste for neatness and arrangement gave it a very orderly aspect； however crowded its walls and shelves might be。 Everything was in its place； and there was
