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Little Journeys to the Homes of the Great - Volume 04 - Little Journeys to the Homes of Eminent Painters by Elbert Hubbard
page 235 of 267 (88%)
soon be brought to England a captive, and Townshend would conduct him to
Reynolds to have his picture taken.

The bet made a sensation and Reynolds offered to repeat it to all comers;
and a score or more of sincere men paid over five pounds into the hands
of Sir Joshua, and took his note for one thousand pounds, payable when
Washington landed in England a prisoner.

Old Ursa Major had small patience with Reynolds' political prophecies;
he called America a land of pirates and half-breed cutthroats, and would
have bet Sir Joshua to a standstill--only he had conscientious scruples
about betting, and besides, hadn't any money.

Goldsmith and Burke, of course, sided with Reynolds in his American
sympathies, and Garrick referred to them as "My friends, the three Irish
Gentlemen."

A frequent visitor at the studio at this time was Angelica Kauffman, who
deserves a volume instead of a mere mention. She came up from
Switzerland, unknown, and made her way to the highest artistic circles in
London. She had wit and beauty, and painted so well that Reynolds
admitted she taught him a few tricks in the use of color. She produced
several portraits of Reynolds, and Reynolds painted several of her; and
the daughter of Thackeray wrote a novel which turns on the assumption
that they were lovers.

There certainly was a fine comradeship existing between them; but whether
Reynolds was ever capable of an all-absorbing passion there is much
doubt. He was married to his work.

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