But she does not know anything about art,
and so she has no reverence for it. When I showed her my "Map of
the Fortifications of Paris," she said it was rubbish.
Well, from nursing those portraits so long, I have come at last
to have a perfect infatuation for art. I have a teacher now,
and my enthusiasm continually and tumultuously grows, as I learn
to use with more and more facility the pencil, brush, and graver.
I am studying under De Mellville, the house and portrait painter.
[His name was Smith when he lived in the West.] He does any kind
of artist work a body wants, having a genius that is universal,
like Michael Angelo. Resembles that great artist, in fact.
The back of his head is like this, and he wears his hat-brim tilted
down on his nose to expose it.
I have been studying under De Mellville several months now.
The first month I painted fences, and gave general satisfaction.
The next month I white-washed a barn. The third, I was doing
tin roofs; the forth, common signs; the fifth, statuary to stand
before cigar shops. This present month is only the sixth, and I am
already in portraits!
The humble offering which accompanies these remarks [see figure]
--the portrait of his Majesty William III., King of Prussia
--is my fifth attempt in portraits, and my greatest success.
It has received unbounded praise from all classes of the community,
but that which gratifies me most is the frequent and cordial verdict
that it resembles the GALAXY portraits.
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