Saturday, 28 February 1863

Misty ―!!! ― S.W. wind!!!! ― Gray!!!!! ― & ― at 4 P.M., rain!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A day of little work ― an hour or so on the oil Porto 3 scoglie. After big energy producing the “60 Tyrants” such reaction is natural.

Moreover ― 4 papers & 5 letters came ―

1. Ellen.
2. one from Henry ― enclosed by her, his address is {[1]
3. F.L.he has a daughter ― born on Ash Wednesday the 18^th.
4. Mrs. G. Clive ― no good accounts of G.C.
5. T. Cooper ― Bright Smith is better.

I wrote to Gush ― deciding on not taking the lower floor: & to Dickenson ―ordering him to put up the Cedars in the 2^nd floor “back.” & to T. Cooper ―announcing the same.

At 3.30. Col. & Mrs. Elmshirst & Mrs. Bannatyne came: & looked at the “Galleria,” kindly folk.

At 5 ― I walked ― (it rained at times, & the world was gray ―) to One Gun battery ― meeting κανένα.[2]

But this life should be better & more active.

Home by 7. Dined. ― sent G. to Καστράδες: & read the 4 newspapers.

Meanwhile ― 10.15. ― Mme. Pinna plays divinely. ―

& so ends the 3^rd of the Winter months!

---

[1] Lear, while leaving the space blank, does not actually write Henry’s address.

[2] Nobody.

---

[Transcribed by Marco Graziosi from Houghton Library, Harvard University, MS Eng. 797.3. Image.]

Friday, 27 February 1863

XX8.

Same lovely weather.

A day altogether upset & nil.

Hung the 60 pictures ― knocking nails &c. &c. ― till 12 or 1. Then did nothing ― being ill & cross. At 4. Drew Vido from Manducchio.

At 7.30 ― to the Palace ―― Sir H.S. has asked me today ― & on Sunday ―― de trop ― selon moi. “Let us alone.”

---

[Transcribed by Marco Graziosi from Houghton Library, Harvard University, MS Eng. 797.3. Image.]

Thursday, 26 February 1863

Same absolute Paradise weather.

Passed all day ― in undoing & cleaning the new 60 frames ―――― un=nailing the 14 already fixed (of the old ones,) ―― & arranging & nailing all the 60 drawings in the new frames. Afterwards, measuring ― & knocking nails in the “Show=room[”] ― & hanging one side entirely ― &c. 2^nd partly. (First however, a good hour or two went in arranging position of pictures.) It was 6.15. when I left off work ― & G. was horribly cross Quaresima having obstructed his ways.

At 7 ― Professor Ansted came, ― but dinner not till 7.30 ―: howbeit it was very good. ―

The Professor is pleasant in some ways ― most ways; but he was not very well ― & possibly was “ill at ease.” ― He looked over many sketches, ― but although pleased with them, he despairs of reproducing them, &, like Mrs. Leake ― advises “relinquishing that idea.” If he does too much here he will be ill. ―

I do not see that I can go out tomorrow ― as I wished: better finish the “exhibition” rooms. ―

Remember 38. Gray’s Inn Road ― & 61. Albany Street. I believe I shall see dear Ann again ― tho’ even[1] the good she had done & continues to do me ― [was] more than enough to be thankful for ― without any ulterior blessings.

How people snore.

Read parts of Gussies Fairy tale today ― & with great pleasure[.]

---

[1] The entry continues in the previous page, for 25.ii.63, preceded by the note on Gussy’s fairy tale.

---

[Transcribed by Marco Graziosi from Houghton Library, Harvard University, MS Eng. 797.3. Image.]

Wednesday, 25 February 1863

Lovely all day. N.W. wind strong ― about 7 P.M.

Slept ill ― & was loath to rise. But I did so, ― for these fine days with early moonlights are not to be thrown away. So, breakfast over by 8.15 ― we shut up house, & G. & I were off by 8.30 ― reaching the crags of the Evangelista above Pelica exactly at Eleven o’clock. There I drew (& lunched ―) till 5 P.M. ―when we walked down ― & all by the moonlight, reached Corfu ― by 7.30. ― High wind has just set in.

Dined ― but was horribly cold: ― & went to bed at 9.30.

G. got me as good a cold dinner as possible. ―

---

[Transcribed by Marco Graziosi from Houghton Library, Harvard University, MS Eng. 797.3. Image.]

Tuesday, 24 February 1863

Fine early ― but cloudy ― & gray ― afterwards: though fine, & cold.

Began to work at the oil Porto 3 scoglie. But Lady Woolff & Φ.Κ. came at 10.30 ― & staid a time: & when they went ― came a Professor Ansted ― from Sir H. Storks, to know about the Island’s geography. Willing to do all I could, the more that he is a friend of Clarks (W.G.) ― I asked him to dine on Thursday ― & proposed to go to Pellica. So at 12.30 I went to Turnox Hotel ― & after a sort of smart visit to Woolffs room at the Palace ― we set off ― & were at Pellica by 2 or 3. ― How beautiful! The Eastward view ― citadel &c. ― is the least charm of Pellica ―― but that to the Val di Roppa ― & North ― & of S. Giorgio, & of the S. West coast ― are all delightful. ― Boys are bothery there tho’. We returned by 4.30 ― or 5 ― & I went with him to Ascension & to the Temple, & then through the Ghetto ―― by 5.45. ―

Found all the 60 frames arrived ― & took them out. At 7 went to Woolfs. Only Φ.Κ. there ― but young Μαρκορᾶν came in later. On going home at 11 ― Boyd overtook me, & walked partly.

---

[Transcribed by Marco Graziosi from Houghton Library, Harvard University, MS Eng. 797.3. Image.]

Monday, 23 February 1863

7X

Same wonderful weather.

Rose, unwell. But I said ― bother these difficulties. So at 9 ― I went to Taylor’s, & then came back to work.

Worked at a new Philæ.

At 10.30 ― came Φ. Κυρκυμέλλι & Φιζζι ― & they stayed a time. Ἔπειτα [][1] At 2, I walked by the Condi lane & Potamo flats, to that beautiful view I have so long intended to draw ― & thence I remained till 5 ― when I cut across to the Potamo road & drew again till 5.30. Then home by 7.

Found 2 letters ― from Mrs. Leake! ― & Mrs. Prescott: both very pleasant.

Penned out till 11.

 

---

[1] “Then” and two more Greek words have been cancelled.

---

[Transcribed by Marco Graziosi from Houghton Library, Harvard University, MS Eng. 797.3. Image.]

Sunday, 22 February 1863

Lovely ―― al solito, & not so cold.

Rose at 7.15. & went to church. Talk with Clark on Colenso. Initiated by his sermon ― on the old ridiculous Lot’s wife story. Why must he say that non=communicants have some crimes or what not which prevent their joining their fellow Xtians? I am conscious of none ― & only always refrain because I will join no church intimately whose dogmas are so loathsomely blasphemous as ours in the Athanasian creed. 10.30 ― to 1.30. went mostly in drawing numerals for little Mary De Vere, wh. I then took her: she is a darling little girl. Then to Sir C. Sargent’s, wh. his father is dead. Ἔπειτα to Lady Woolffs ― who is sad ― for it is the anniversary of her little girl’s death. Φ. Curcuμελλι ― there also ― & later Sir H.J. ― returned to change shoes ― & then there again, [X] with Sargent & Woolff to Potamo ― & back by the flats, by 6. ― These two men bore me, as seeing nothing whatever in the landscape: moreover they jaw, & dispute, & bore. ― However ― we got on pretty well. ― Day, most brilliant ― but sadly cold. ― At 7.30 to the Palace. ―

Evening livelier than at times. But a little too much dirt. Would, one were away in ἐλευθερία[1] ― “o somewhere!” ――

Returned before 11. But compared with a year ago, how very pleasant is this year!

 

---

[1] Freedom (NB).

---

[Transcribed by Marco Graziosi from Houghton Library, Harvard University, MS Eng. 797.3. Image.]

Saturday, 21 February 1863

Perfect wonderful weather ― less cold ― but still cold.

Worked all day ― off & on ― at 3 Swiss paintings ― P. Pelissier ― Mer de Glace ― & Mr. Blane. ―

The house was however ― more or less sottosopra[1] ― sewing of wood &c. ―

Only De Vere called. ―

Did not go out till 6.30 ― when to dine at the Boyds’. ―

Afterwards ―

Miss Ragnanean. ― The narrow=sad=circular=bitter=Island life=bother breaks out even in so good a woman as Mrs. Boyd.

The only real way to live here or elsewhere, is to make interests, either internal or external, wholly unconnected with the place. ―

Home by 10.30. ―

Letters today from ― J.B. Harford ― good & pleasant. ― from J.B. Edwards ― ἔτζι κ’ ἔτζι ― asking me to ask C.F. for a Governor’s place!! & from Dr. Roberts.

 

---

[1] Upside down.

---

[Transcribed by Marco Graziosi from Houghton Library, Harvard University, MS Eng. 797.3. Image.]

Friday, 20 February 1863

Same amazing Paradise weather ― & not quite so cold.

Rather a happyish bebothery day.

Obliged to have a load of wood ― I burn so much. Lady Woolff did not come.

Worked pretty interval=hard at Cormayeur [sic] ― with its vast buttresses & ice glooms. How exactly these drawings bring back past life! Buchanan came. He & heaps more go to Athens αὔριον.[1]

Did not go out at all: I ain’t been out since Monday.

‘I have not been, & still won’t go.’

Conceived other paintings ― Parga, Philæ, & Gethsemane: ― ἀλλὰ μὰλλον νὰ ἑτοιμασωμεν πρότερον ταῦτα ὁποῦ ἀρχίσαμεν.[2]

Dined ― 7.

Penned out 8.30 to 11.

G. with all his good will ― will not be a good house servant 5 years more: ― what to do towards this τίμιος ἂνθρωπος?[3]

---

[1] Tomorrow (NB).

[2] But we should rather finish first those we have already started (NB).

[3] Honest man (NB).

---

[Transcribed by Marco Graziosi from Houghton Library, Harvard University, MS Eng. 797.3. Image.]

Thursday, 19 February 1863

Same wonderful weather ― but cold.

Rose ― 7.30 ― better but unwell.

At 9. Sir H.J. Storks (& Straham) came. It was a pleasant show the 60 drawings to him ― real interest & intelligence. Moreover he bought 2. ― so 12 out of the 60 are gone.

Wrote to sundry ― asking them to come. The Pigotts wrote later ― disclaiming all idea of purchasing drawings.

Worked at the P. Pelissier piny ponderous perilous painting.

A case came ― by the [Tibor]: containing some frames ― & a ridiculous lot of panels.

Later ― Hoggs of the Engineers.

Did not go out.

Dined at 6.45. ――

Penned out (Virò drawings ―) 8 to 10.30.

G. gone to Kastrades.

Placed many of the smaller drawings in frames.

X6

---

[Transcribed by Marco Graziosi from Houghton Library, Harvard University, MS Eng. 797.3. Image.]