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Memoirs of the Life of William Collins, Esq., R. A.
Memoirs of the Life of William Collins Esq R A Author:Wilkie Collins Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: PART III. CHAPTER I. 1836-1837. Extract from Diary—Events of journey from Paris to Nice— Letter to Wilkie, and answer—Studies at Nice, etc., etc.—Report... more »s of cholera in Italy—Journey to Genoa—Works of Art, etc, in that city—Visit to Pisa—Arrival at Florence, and impressions produced by its picture and sculpture galleries—Departure for Rome—Letters to and from Wilkie—Models, studies, opinions, and employments at Rome — Two instances of remarkable designs for future pictures—Second letter to, and answer from, Wilkie—Projects of departure—New rumours of cholera—Arrival at Naples—rich field for pictorial study, presented by the people and scenery of that place—Preparations for an extended sojourn there—Outbreak of cholera—Removal of the painter and his family to Sorrento—Its varied attractions—Remarkable landscape sketches there—Other studies—Excursion to Amalfi— Sudden illness—Sufferings from rheumatic fever—Departure in October, to try the efficacy of the sulphur baths of Ischia. The commencement of his journey to Italy, is thus described in Mr. Collins's note-book: " 1836, September 19th—Left London for Dover, with my wife and children, intending to travel into Italy, and to return in about a twelvemonth. Wewere accompanied by Mr. Henry Rice and his daughter, who were to go with us to Paris. 20th— Took our leave of dear England in a steam-boat, bound for Boulogne; where we arrived in about three hours—remained there the following day ; and on the 22nd, departed in the ' diligence' for Paris ; sleeping that night at Amiens, and arriving on the evening of the following day, the 24th. Remained at Paris until October 3rd, when we left Paris for Auxsrre, on our way to Chalons-sur-Saone. During our stay in the French capital, the weather was generally bad. Saw the Louvre an...« less