[Illustration: A FANCY PORTRAIT SKETCH OF W. P. BURTON.
[Illustration: ~3. St. Petersburgh Place Bayswater.~
Accept my apologies for not having before answered your reply.
The picture shall be yours & I am going at it hard as possible--Millais has just left me much comforted both as to that & the photos of your blocks, he made some suggestions however for Philip which will be an improvement--
You will I dare say be glad to hear (in confidence) that I intend becoming a candidate for the Old Water Color Socʸ.--chiefly on the _advice_ of certain of its members, and should like Philip as _the_ specimen.
This I particularly wish kept _snug_ at present. Millais's advice is strongly in its favor.
I shall be glad to hear from you. I perhaps need not say that something toward the plum-pudding will gladden the heart of
Years after, Professor von Herkomer produced a very charming etching of this picture, the same size as the original.
Gilbert Dalziel, son of Edward Dalziel, sat to Walker for the boy in "Philip in Church." Walker took a great fancy to him, and they had many games together. The following is a letter from him to his youthful model, which will give an idea of the nature of their friendship:
7 Charles St Manchester Square Feb. 11 1862
I begg to enklose the Top as i prom-missed and 1 or too Jew-Jabes which You will kindley giv to youre sister Miss Grace (with mi best compleymints) only on the conditchion that She dont gitt rid of em in less then 5 minites Hopping you are wel as it leves me at preashunt
I remain Dear Sur Your es Respketfuly _Fredᵏ. Walker_
For the first two years after the picture was finished it was seldom in our possession for more than a week or two at any one time, it being in frequent request, either for exhibition in the provinces or abroad; and not infrequently in Walker's own studio, when he wished to show it to his friends.
"MY DEAR MR. DALZIEL,--I have just received a letter from Miss Minnie Thackeray to say her sister, who comes to town to-day, is so unwell as to be unable to visit us to-day. Will you have the kindness to let the picture, which has just arrived, remain here for a day or two? and with many thanks,
"Believe me, "Sincerely yours, "F. WALKER.