SD2424. Arthur Hughes to Ellen Heaton
Published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 28, 362–363 (in part).
Ivy Cottage. Staines
Friday [Postmark: 14 December 1860]
Dear Miss Heaton
Many thanks for your letter. I am afraid I am totally unable to enhance the value of my painting by attempting to elucidate my reading of the subject. If I could play with words perhaps I would have painted with them instead, however in as few as possible let me say I think you rather conceive an earlier moment of the interview than that I have painted or attempted to paint. I think Aurora’s “half petulant, half playful” expression would have lasted only while speaking, the appropriate accompaniment to her feeling, and Romney I certainly hoped did look somewhat disconcerted and distressed. The moment I chose to paint was the last—Romney turning away, and should perhaps properly have included the Aunt, but that the incident concerned these two chiefly. If I had not chosen that moment, the story as Romney’s dismissal would I think have been confused, it would rather have seemed a quarrel of which we did not see the end nor know the cause—(remember I speak from my painter side) who has you know only one moment for all this drama– I hope you will try and think with me. Mr Ruskin said to me “but was’nt Aurora tremendously angry.” I should also say that he repeated “Beautiful Beautiful[”] once or twice, and said he should inform you that you had a prize. I did not attempt to explain the painting to him beyond saying that I thought Aurora had not been very angry at the moment of Romney’s leaving. The dress is not a white one, which I thought would not be agreeable, but a sea green tint: a white could only be very slightly tinted in parts from the landscape near—and more on the subject of price I must ask you kindly to pay me the price of the frame £2, separate from the thirty guineas for the painting, as it has really cost me a great deal more time than I thought such a subject would have– I hope you will not think me extortinate, but I consider the frame always separate, and only sent it home framed as it made my picture more presentable and I also thought you might like me to select a frame– A cheque on Glynn & Co. will suit me perfectly and I remain very sincerely yours
Arthur Hughes
Address: Miss Heaton / 6 Woodhouse Square / Leeds.
Publication: Sublime & Instructive: Letters from John Ruskin, ed. Virginia Surtees (London, 1972), p. 228 (in part).
Manuscript: Victoria and Albert Museum.
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