an autobiography-第15章
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s 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 dropt out of the letter enclosing it； and was not recovered。 In fact； Patrick was very careless about all money transactions。
In 1814 he made the acquaintance of Mr。 Barnes； and accompanied him to Bure Cottage； Ringwood； near Southampton； where he remained for some time。 He went into the New Forest； and brought home 〃lots of sketches。〃 In 1815 he exhibited his works at the Royal Academy。 He writes to his father that 〃the prices of my pictures in the Gallery are two at fourteen guineas each （small views in Hampshire）； one at twelve guineas； and two at fourteen guineas。 They are all sold but one。 These pictures would now fetch in the open market from two to three hundred guineas each。 But in those days good work was little known； and landscapes especially were very little sought after。
Patrick Nasmyth's admirable rendering of the finer portions of landscape nature attracted the attention of collectors； and he received many commissions from them at very low prices。 There was at that time a wretched system of delaying the payment for pictures painted on commission； as well as considerable loss of time by the constant applications made for the settlement of the balance。 My brother was accordingly under the necessity of painting his pictures for the Dealers； who gave him at once the price which he required for his works。 The influence of this system was not always satisfactory。 The Middlemen or Dealers； who stood between the artist and the final possessor of the works； were not generous。 They higgled about prices； and the sums which they gave were almost infinitesimal compared with the value of Patrick Nasmyth's pictures at the present time。
The Dealers were frequent visitors at his little painting…room in his lodgings。 They took undue advantage of my brother's simplicity and innate modesty in regard to the commercial value of his works。 When he had sketched in a beautiful subject； and when it was clear that in its highest state of development it must prove a fine work； the Dealer would pile up before him a row of guineas； or sovereigns； and say； 〃Now； Peter； that picture's to be mine！〃； The real presence of cash proved too much for him。 He never was a practical man。 He agreed to the proposal； and thus he parted with his pictures for much less than they were worth。 He was often remonstrated with by his brother artists for letting them slip out of his hands in that wayworks that he would not surrender until he had completed them； and brought them up to the highest point of his fastidious taste and standard of excellence。 Among his dearest friends were David Roberts and Clarkson Stanfield。 He usually replied to their friendly remonstrances by laughingly pointing to his bursting portfolios of sketches； and saying； 〃There's lots of money in these banks to draw from。〃 He thus warded off their earnest and often…repeated remonstrances。 Being a single man； and his habits and style of living of the most simple kind； he had very little regard for money except as it ministered to his immediate necessities。 H
