DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70302#0220
192
LIFE OF GEORGE MORLAND.
ment or intreaties could bring him into the company of
its generous and public-spirited proprietor.
A friend, who was going to pass the summer at Mar-
gate, advised old Morland to send his son to that place
to paint portraits. The plan appeared a good one, and
was adopted. George, with his picture of Garrick and
some others, took lodgings for the season; customers
flocked to him, his portraits pleased, and he began a great
number. Unfortunately the society of accomplished wo-
men or rational men made him feel his own ignorance
and insignificance, hence every one who sat to him was
an object of disgust. The pig-races, and other elegant
amusements projected for the lower order of visitors at
Margate, engaged the whole of his attention, and the
portraits were thrown aside to be completed in town.
Instead of returning home with his pockets full of money,
he only brought a large cargo of unfinished canvasses ;
and as the engagements of the watering place are forgot-
ten in the capital, very few of them were afterwards com-
pleted.
Though, in this expedition, he obtained very little pe-
cuniary advantage, he gained several points that were of
considerable consequence. He acquired the reputation
of being an artist who possessed considerable talents ;
he emancipated himself from paternal authority ; and in-
stead of handing a sketch slily out of the window to raise
a few shillings, he did what he pleased, and fixed what
price he thought proper on his labours. By means of
the money he thus obtained, he was enabled to make
many acquaintances, who unfortunately contributed to fix
his character for life. The lowest among the professors
of his art now became the companions of Morland. To
these he was equal in intellect, and superior in talent;
he was likewise superior to them in a circumstance
which
LIFE OF GEORGE MORLAND.
ment or intreaties could bring him into the company of
its generous and public-spirited proprietor.
A friend, who was going to pass the summer at Mar-
gate, advised old Morland to send his son to that place
to paint portraits. The plan appeared a good one, and
was adopted. George, with his picture of Garrick and
some others, took lodgings for the season; customers
flocked to him, his portraits pleased, and he began a great
number. Unfortunately the society of accomplished wo-
men or rational men made him feel his own ignorance
and insignificance, hence every one who sat to him was
an object of disgust. The pig-races, and other elegant
amusements projected for the lower order of visitors at
Margate, engaged the whole of his attention, and the
portraits were thrown aside to be completed in town.
Instead of returning home with his pockets full of money,
he only brought a large cargo of unfinished canvasses ;
and as the engagements of the watering place are forgot-
ten in the capital, very few of them were afterwards com-
pleted.
Though, in this expedition, he obtained very little pe-
cuniary advantage, he gained several points that were of
considerable consequence. He acquired the reputation
of being an artist who possessed considerable talents ;
he emancipated himself from paternal authority ; and in-
stead of handing a sketch slily out of the window to raise
a few shillings, he did what he pleased, and fixed what
price he thought proper on his labours. By means of
the money he thus obtained, he was enabled to make
many acquaintances, who unfortunately contributed to fix
his character for life. The lowest among the professors
of his art now became the companions of Morland. To
these he was equal in intellect, and superior in talent;
he was likewise superior to them in a circumstance
which