Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1885 edition. Excerpt: ... six. The following lines by Mr. R. J. Lane, are on the Turner monument in St. Paul's, which is a statue by MacDowell: -- "' In habit as he lived' and wrought, And listened as sweet Nature taught, Turner in simple guise Upon a rock observant stands; He pauses as the scene expands In splendour to his eyes; Then glancing o'er the land, the sea, Sets his creative fancy free. "And as the sculptor's lofty reach Aspires in metaphor to teach, Thus in immortal stone, MacDowell's ready wit suggests, The rock on which great Turner rests, Unshackled and alone." CHAPTER X. MENTAL AND MORAL EXCELLENCIES AND DEFECTS. THE barber's son "died rich," leaving a fortune of 140,000. An artist friend informs the author that this large sum was partly made by Stock Exchange transactions. It is, of course, possible, and even probable, that Turner, like many others with money to invest and employ, bought and sold stocks and shares. It is possible that he did this to his advantage. But it is not necessary to believe that he did so in order to account for his realising a fortune so large. His works, even during his lifetime, fetched considerable sums of money, as much as a hundred and twenty guineas, according to a statement made by The Times in 1851, having, not unfrequently, been given for one of his small sketches in water-colours. His larger works in oil sold for hundreds of pounds each, and, as we have said, he is known to have refused 100,000 for the contents of his Queen Anne Street Gallery on one occasion. Then it must be borne in mind that Turner knew remarkably well how to take care of money. He may even be said to have been parsimonious, living meanly and scraping, and hoarding incessantly. Illustrative of his meanness in money matters, the..."