Pre-Raphaelitism and the pre-Raphaelite brotherhood . bolting and barring the door the midst of my torments with the canvas, typhoidfever assailed me, resulting from a visit to Paris, andhad it not been for the unwearied, skilful, and affectionateattention of Sir William Gull, I believe the attack wouldhave ended my days. When after ten weeks I wasrestored to convalescence, and was able to go to mypicture, I began with fresh patience, but in a month ortwo I asked Millais to come and help me decide whetherI should give up the subject altogether, as one whichseemed as though all the dev
Pre-Raphaelitism and the pre-Raphaelite brotherhood . bolting and barring the door the midst of my torments with the canvas, typhoidfever assailed me, resulting from a visit to Paris, andhad it not been for the unwearied, skilful, and affectionateattention of Sir William Gull, I believe the attack wouldhave ended my days. When after ten weeks I wasrestored to convalescence, and was able to go to mypicture, I began with fresh patience, but in a month ortwo I asked Millais to come and help me decide whetherI should give up the subject altogether, as one whichseemed as though all the devils in hell would not let mebring it to conclusion; or take up some other of my manyreserved subjects, or recommence this same compositionon a new canvas. He came with the best heart to advise XII PRE-RAPHAELITE BROTHERHOOD 339 me. When he stood before the work he was moved, aftermuch pondering, to say that he thought it would be mostunwise to abandon the picture with so Httle in it still to becompleted. I can see, he said, that at present the part. PORTRAIT DESIGN. on which you have to paint the principal group is quiteimpracticable, but I know a man who would put it rightand make it tight as a drum. Despite my own doubts, Islowly acquiesced, and at last agreed to try his method,and sent the canvas to a restorer once more. It cameback apparently quite sound, and I began with new hope,and progressed for some time with continuing determina- 340 PRE-RAPHAELITISM AND THE chap. tion. At this time a member of the Royal Academywrote a letter to The Times, in which he declared that theInstitution was absolutely perfect in its constitution and inthe exercise of its powers. The writer was one who had in1863, ere he was a member, signed a memorial to the RoyalCommissioners praying that the Body should be radicallyreformed. Since he and most of the other petitionershad been elected, no changes, not even those required bythe Royal Commissioners, had been made. I felt that thewriters statem
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