The sketch from which Chantrey wrought was
given to me by my father a few months before his death, and is now
suspended on the wall of the room in which I write.
It is a pencil-sketch, shaded with Indian ink, and is very Stothard-like
and beautiful. It wants, however, a certain sculptural grace, which
Chantrey gave with a master feeling; and it wants the snow-drops in the
hand of the younger sister,--a touch of poetic beauty suggested by my
father.
The carver of the group (the person who copied it in marble) was the
late Mr. F.A. Lege, to whom the merit of the whole monument has been
foolishly ascribed.
I should be sorry to impress the world with the belief that I mean in
any way to detract from the merit of Chantrey in making this statement.
I have divulged no secret. I have only endeavoured to explain what till
now has been too often misunderstood.
PETER CUNNINGHAM.
The following statement may perhaps give to PLECTRUM the information he
requires.
Dining one day alone with Chantrey, in Jan. 1833, our conversation
accidentally turned upon some of his monuments, and amongst other things
he told me the circumstances connected with the monument at Lichfield to
the two children of Mrs. Robinson. As I was leaving Chantrey, I asked
him if I might write down what he had told me; his reply was,
"Certainly; indeed I rather wish you would.
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