GE to Frederic Leighton, London, [5? June 1862]
Title
GE to Frederic Leighton, London, [5? June 1862]
Title
GE to Frederic Leighton, London, [5? June 1862]
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
Frederic Leigh
Date(s)
- 1862-06-05
Place
London
Letter Content
GE to Frederic Leighton, London, [5? June 1862]
Text: Mrs. Russell Barrington, The Life, Letters and Work of Frederic Leighton, 2 vols., George Allen and Unwin, 1906, II, 97.
Blandford Square, N.W.
Thursday.
Dear Mr. Leighton,
Unmitigated delight! Nello 82 is better than my Nello. I see the love and care with which the drawings are done.
After I had sent away my yesterday's note, written in such haste that I was afterwards uncomfortable lest I had misrepresented my feelings, the very considerations you suggest had occurred to me and I had talked them over with Mr. Lewes -- namely, that the exigencies of your art must forbid perfect correspondence between the text and the illustration; and I came to the conclusion that it was these exigencies which had determined you as to the position of Bardo's head and the fall of Romola's hair. You have given her attitude transcendently well, and the attitude is more important than the mere head-dress. I am glad you chose Nello's shop; it makes so good a variety with Bardo and Romola. In a day or two you will have the second part, and I think you will find there a scene for Tessa "under the Plane Tree." 83 But perhaps we shall see each other before you begin the next drawings.
Ever yours truly,
M. E. Lewes.
Text: Mrs. Russell Barrington, The Life, Letters and Work of Frederic Leighton, 2 vols., George Allen and Unwin, 1906, II, 97.
Blandford Square, N.W.
Thursday.
Dear Mr. Leighton,
Unmitigated delight! Nello 82 is better than my Nello. I see the love and care with which the drawings are done.
After I had sent away my yesterday's note, written in such haste that I was afterwards uncomfortable lest I had misrepresented my feelings, the very considerations you suggest had occurred to me and I had talked them over with Mr. Lewes -- namely, that the exigencies of your art must forbid perfect correspondence between the text and the illustration; and I came to the conclusion that it was these exigencies which had determined you as to the position of Bardo's head and the fall of Romola's hair. You have given her attitude transcendently well, and the attitude is more important than the mere head-dress. I am glad you chose Nello's shop; it makes so good a variety with Bardo and Romola. In a day or two you will have the second part, and I think you will find there a scene for Tessa "under the Plane Tree." 83 But perhaps we shall see each other before you begin the next drawings.
Ever yours truly,
M. E. Lewes.
Signature
M. E. Lewes.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to Frederic Leighton, London, [5? June 1862], Complete George Eliot Letters(2026), George Eliot Archive, edited by Beverley Park Rilett. https://GeorgeEliotArchive.org, Accessed September 7, 2026. https://georgeeliotarchive.org/items/show/92431