Florence, that his future career was decided upon. His father said to him:
"Now, Fred, give me a number of your designs, and I will take them to Mr. Powers," referring to Hiram Powers, the celebrated American sculptor. "If he says that you will be a distinguished artist, all well and good. If not, you must give up the idea."
His father took some sketches, including a great battle-scene suggested by one of Macaulay's poems.
"And what is the verdict, Mr. Powers?" asked Mr. Leighton. "Shall I make him an artist?"
The reply was: "You can't help yourself, sir; Nature has done it for you."
"Will he be an eminent artist?" then asked Mr. Leighton.
The answer was: "Sir, your son can be as eminent as he pleases."
This settled the whole question, and the youthful artist from that day was allowed free course in the matter.
Study for a sibyl.
"I have a slight recollection of my first drawing master," said Sir Frederick. "While at Rome I remember saying to my father, 'I want to learn drawing.' 'All right,' was the reply, 'go and get a master.' I made inquiries, obtained the address of a man, went to him and engaged him. I remember he was very much amused when he found that I knew how to write down his name and address; but he gave me most careful attention, and outline drawings to copy. He was very firm; if he did not like my copy he used to put three strokes across it, and make me do it again."
Young Leighton then studied in the Academy at Berlin, then at Frankfort-on-Main, and afterwards went to Brussels, where he painted his first important picture, representing Cimabue finding Giotto drawing in the fields. So years passed on in studying in Paris, copying pictures in the Louvre, and returning again to Frankfort. The first picture which told Englishmen of the genius of Sir Frederick was "Cimabue's Procession," exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1855.
"I shall never forget packing that picture up to send it to England," said Sir Frederick: "I was in Rome at the time. I found some of the colours on the canvas were quite wet, but I risked it; and, taking some varnish with a brush, I went for my picture. It was still so wet that the paint came off by touching it with a handkerchief. However, it arrived in England as sound as a rock, and the Queen bought it immediately it was exhibited."
It was in Rome that Thackeray, whilst Leighton's name was barely known in England, wrote to Millais and told him that he had met a "versatile young dog who will run you hard for the presidentship one day." With the advent of "Cimabue's Procession" his fame was established and his genius at once recognised. He did not, however, come to England for four years after his first great success. From the time he settled in this country up to the present day every picture that he has painted has called for diligent study from the public. He was elected an Associate of the Royal Academy in 1864, and an Academician in 1869. He became President in succession to Sir
