an autobiography-第13节
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h had her own individuality of style and manner； by which their several works were easily distinguished from each other。 Indeed； whoever works after Nature will have a style of their own。 They all continued the practice of oil painting until an advanced age。 The average duration of their lives was about seventy…eight。
There was one point which my father diligently impressed upon his pupils； and that was the felicity and the happiness attendant upon pencil drawing。 He was a master of the pencil； and in his off…hand sketches communicated his ideas to others in a way that mere words could never have done。 It was his Graphic Language。 A few strokes of the pencil can convey ideas which quires of writing would fail to impart。 This is one of the most valuable gifts which a man who has to do with practical subjects can possess。 〃The language of the pencil〃 is a truly universal one； especially in communicating ideas which have reference to material forms。 And yet it is in a great measure neglected in our modern system of education。
The language of the tongue is often used to disguise our thoughts； whereas the language of the pencil is clear and explicit。 Who that possesses this language can fail to look back with pleasure on the course of a journey illustrated by pencil drawings？ They bring back to you the landscapes you have seen； the old streets； the pointed gables； the entrances to the old churches； even the bits of tracery； with a vividness of association such as mere words could never convey。 Thus； looking at an old sketch…book brings back to you the recollection of a tour； however varied； and you virtually make the journey over again with its picturesque and beautiful associations。 On many a fine summer's day did my sisters make a picnic excursion into the neighbourhood of Edinburgh。 They were accompanied by their pupils； sketch…book and pencil in hand。 As I have already said； there is no such scenery near any city that I know of。 Arthur's Seat and Salisbury Crags； Duddingston Loch； the Braid Hills； Craigmillar Castle； Hawthornden； Roslin； Habbie's How； and the many valleys and rifts in the Pentlands； with Edinburgh and its Castle in the distance； or the scenery by the sea…shore； all round the coast from Newhaven to Gullane and North Berwick Law。
The excursionists came home laden with sketches。 I have still by me a multitude of these graphic records made by my sisters。 Each sketch； however slight； strikes the keynote； as it were； to many happy recollections of the circumstances； and the persons who were present at the time it was made。 I know not of any such effective stimulant to the recollection of past events as these graphic memoranda。 Written words may be forgotten； but these slight pencil recollections imprint themselves on the mind with a force that can never be effaced。 Everything that occurred at the time rises up as fresh in the memory as if hours and not years had passed since then。 They bring to the mind's eye many dear ones who have passed away； and remind us that we too must follow them。
It is much to be regretted that this valuable art of graphic memoranda is not more generally practised。 It is not merely a most valuable help to the memory； but it educates the eye and the hand； and enables us to cultivate the faculty of definite observation。 This is one of the most valuable accomplishments that I know of； being the means of storing up ideas； and not mere words； in the mental recollection of both men and women。
Before I proceed to record the recollections of my own life； I wish to say something about my eldest brother Patrick； the well…known landscape painter。 He was twenty…one years older than myself！ My father was his best and almost his only instructor。 At a very early age he manifested a decided taste for drawing and painting。 His bent was landscape。 This gave my father great pleasure； as it was his own favourite branch of art。 The boy acquired great skill in sketching trees； clouds； plants； and foregrounds。 He studied with wonderful assiduity and success。 I possess many of his graphic memoranda； which show the care and industry with which he educated his eye and hand in rendering with truth and fidelity the intimate details of his art。 The wild plants which he introduced into the foregrounds of his pictures were his favourite objects of study。 But of all portions of landscape nature； the Sky was the one that most delighted him。 He studied the form and character of cloudsresting cloud； the driving cloud； and the rain cloudand the sky portions of his paintings were thus rendered so beautifully attractive。
He was so earnest in his devotion to the study of landscape that in some respects he neglected the ordinary routine of school education。 He successfully accomplished the three R。's； but after that his school was the fields； in the face of Nature。 He was by no means a Romantic painter。 His taste was essentially for Home subjects。 In his landscapes he introduced picturesque farm…houses and cottages； with their rural surroundings； and his advancement and success were commensurate with his devotion to this fine branch of art。 The perfect truth with which he represented English scenery； associated as it is with so many home…loving feelings； forms the special attractiveness of his works。 This has caused them to be eagerly sought after； and purchased at high prices。
Patrick had a keen sense of humour； though in other respects he was simple and unpretending。 He was a great reader of old…fashioned novels； which indeed in those days were the only works of the kind to be met with。 The Arabian Nights； Robinson crusoe； The Mysteries of Udolpho； and such like； were his favourites； and gave a healthy filip to his imagination。 He had also a keen relish for music； and used to whistle melodies and overtures as he went along with his work。 He acquired a fair skill in violin playing。 While tired with sitting or standing he would take up his violin； play a few passages； and then go to work again。
Patrick removed to London in 1808； and exhibited at the Royal Academy in the following year。 He made excursions to various parts of England； where he found subjects congenial to his ideas of rural beauty。 The immediate neighbourhood of London； however； a bounded with the most charming and appropriate subjects for his pencil。 These consisted of rural 〃bits〃 of the most picturesque but homely descriptiondecayed pollard trees and old moss…grown orchards； combined with cottages and farm…houses in the most paintable state of decay； with tangled hedges and neglected fences； overrun with vegetation clinging to them with all 〃the careless grace of Nature。〃 However neglected these might be by the farmer； they were always tit…bits for Patrick。 When sketching such subjects he was in his glory； and he returned to his easel loaded with sketch…book treasures； which when painted form the gems of many a collection。
In some of these charming subjects glimpses of the distant capital may be observed； with the dome of St。 Paul's in the distance； but they are introduced with such skill and correctness as in no way to interfere with the rural character of his subject。 When he went farther afield to Windsor Forest； Hampshire； the New Forest； or the Isle of Wight he was equally diligent with his pencil； and came home laden with sketches of the old monarchs of the forest。 When in a state of partial decay his skilful touch brought them to life again； laden with branches and lichen； with leaves and twigs and bark； and with every feature that gives such a charm to these important elements in true English landscape scenery。 On my brother's first visit to London； accompanied by my father； he visited many collections where the old Dutch masters were to be seen； and he doubtless derived much advantage from his careful studies； more particularly from the works of Hobbema； Ruysdael； and Wynants。 These came home to him as representations of Nature as she is。 They were more free from the traditional modes of representing her。 The works of Claude Lorraine and Richard Wilson were also the objects of his admiration； though the influence of the time for classicality of treatment to a certain extent vitiated these noble works。 When a glorious sunset was observed； the usual expression among the lovers of art was； 〃What a magnificent Claudish effect！〃 thus setting up the result of man's feeble attempt at representation as the standard of comparison； in place of the far grander original！
My brother carefully studied Nature herself。 His works； following those of my father； led back the public taste to a more healthy and true condition； and by the aid of a noble army of modern British landscape painters； this department of art has been elevated to a very high standard of truth and excellence。
I find some letters from Patrick to my father； after his settlement as an artist in London。 My father seems to have supplied him with money during the early part of his career； and afterwards until he had received the amount of his commissions for pictures。 In one of his letters he says： 〃That was an unlucky business； the loss of that order which you were so good as send me on my account。〃 It turned out that the order had
