244
THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
Esq., of Beleigh Grange, Essex," and "Heads of a Pointer Bitch and Puppies,
the property of W. H. Simpson, Esq., of Beleigh Grange, Essex." About the
same time he painted "A French Hog, the property of Mr. Bacon of the Black
Boy Inn, near Chelmsford."
Even before this time, however, he had drawn something of local interest, but
to this, I believe, attention has never before been called, although I feel confident it
will be found to be the earliest of Landseer's published works—of course, excepting
those early works of his which have been published since his death. In the
appendix to the Rev. W. B. Daniels' well-known work on "Rural Sports"
(p. 481) may be seen an engraved plate of the head and tail of a fine long-haired
cat, "the property of Mrs. Finch of Maldon." It is inscribed as follows :—"T.
Landseer filius. sculp, from a drawing by his brother Edwin," and as it is dated
September 1813, it follows that it was done when Edwin was only eleven years old.
Many early sketches done by Edwin Landseer when a child were published
some seven or eight years ago in the "Art Journal," some of which may have
been of local interest, but I have not copies to exhibit.
We have here (at Chignal St. James) a reputed Landseer about which an
interesting tale is told. About forty years ago my late father on taking a house
in Chelmsford High Street became possessed of one of two old pictures, the other
of which pair has now been lost sight of. It was said at the time that this picture
was either wholly or in part the work of Edwin Landseer—that he had in early
days lived and studied at Chelmsford (this would have been about thirty-five
years before ; i.e., about 1815) ; and that he had then been either a pupil of or
intimate with a local artist who had had his studio in the house in Chelmsford
High Street, where the picture was obtained by my father. It was further said
that Landseer had been accustomed to paint the animals in his master's
pictures, and that he either painted in the dog in the picture in question or
painted the picture wholly himself in his spare time, in his master's studio,
with his master's colours. This tale I heard from my father as long back as I
can remember, and I give it simply for what it is worth. I have not as yet made
any enquiries with a view to testing its authenticity, and it may either be true
wholly or in part, or it may not. The tale appears not unlikely to be true. In
the first place it is clear that Landseer in early life had some connection with the
neighbourhood of Chelmsford and Maldon, while the fact that the painting was
ascribed to Landseer as much as forty years ago (which was before he had
attained to the great popularity he afterwards enjoyed), lends still further pro-
bability to the story.
The picture itself is painted on millboard, and measures about twenty-four
inches by eighteen. Unfortunately, it is in a very bad condition, being much
faded by age and dirt, and is, I fear, now past repair. It represents an aged
woodman sitting upon a bank in a wood, engaged in eating his mid-day meal,
while his dog, to which he is offering a piece of bread, has its paws upon bis
knee. This dog, a rough-haired terrier, is supposed to be Landseer's contribu-
tion to the design.
Among the great men of Maldon, Mr. Fitch said, must not be forgotten
Edward Bright, a shopkeeper of the town, concerning whom there is an
account in the "Philosophical Transactions" (vol. xvii.). His size and weight
were almost unparalleled. At the age of 121/2 years he weighed 144 lbs. ; in
seven years more he weighed 336 lbs. The last time he was weighed, which
was about thirteen months before he died, his weight was 584 lbs.; at the time of
his death his weight is supposed to have been 616 lbs. He measured 5 ft. 91/2 in.
in height. His body, round the chest, was 5 ft. 6 in., and round the belly 6 ft.
11 in. ; his arm in the middle measured 2 ft. 2in., and his leg 2 ft. 8in. Till a
year or two before his death he was comparatively an active man; but afterwards
his extreme corpulency so overpowered his strength that life seemed burdensome.
His coffin was so enormously large that an opening was obliged to be cut in the
wall and staircase to let him down into the shop, and it was carried to the grave upon