He took the drawing home and worked patiently for another week.
Then he brought it to Mr. West again.
Mr. West handed it back to Mr. Morse, saying:
"Very well indeed, sir. Go on and finish it."
"Is it not finished?" said Mr. Morse, for he was almost discouraged.
"See," said Mr. West, "you have not marked this muscle nor that
finger joint."
So another three days were spent on the drawing.
Again it was taken back.
"Very clever indeed," said Mr. West, "very clever. Now go on and
finish it."
"I cannot finish it," replied Mr. Morse.
Then the old man patted him on the shoulder and said:
"Well, I have tried you long enough.
"Now, sir, you have learned more by this drawing than you would have
learned in double the time by a dozen half finished drawings.
"Finish one picture, sir, and you are a painter."
Mr. Morse took this good advice.
He went to work upon a large picture.
It was a picture of the "Dying Hercules."
He first modeled his picture in clay.
This he did so well that he received a gold medal for it. This was
on May 13, 1813.
His picture, too, was given great praise.
It was counted as one of the twelve best among the two thousand
pictures.
So Mr. Morse went on patiently and carefully in this work.
He made many good friends in London.
One of these friends was the poet, Coleridge.
Pages:
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48