Friday, 21 December 1860

Colder ― Χειμῶν εἶναι1 ――― & all snow: so that I thought Ann would not come. ― But at 11.30 she did ― & had actually walked from home ― not liking vehicles on the slippery roads. She is very well ― all but eyes ― & vastly cheerful. ― Perhaps we have never had […]

Thursday, 20 December 1860

Drew £100 from Drummonds’ ― & placed it in the bank. Vastly cold! ― After breakfast the 2 Campagna pictures were framed. W.F.B. came in ― but at 11 I went to Drummonds ―: poi Coutts. Then F.L. out. ― & so to Scott the bookers by 1. ― Then to the Bells; dear good […]

Wednesday, 19 December 1860

Very hard frost ― bright & very cold. Rose at 7½ ― & packed. Left Oatlands at 10.30 ― to be absent for a week ― the 6 unfinished pictures left behind. Took the 7 small ones with me. At Foords by 12 ― & then to 15 Stratford Pl. Letters from C.F. & F.L. […]

Tuesday, 18 December 1860

Hardish frost ― bright ― dry. Suddingly ― worked all over the Interlaken, Beirût, & Damascus: & screwed them up ― moving them into the bedroom. Shaved the Cedar sky. At 3 T. Wyatt came ― & bought the Philates! Then a letter from Worrington ― ditto the Tiber? Letter from Edwards Père ― also […]

Monday, 17 December 1860

Colder ― & no sun. Finished ― μοῖ δοκεῖ,1 ― Brights little Cerbara. Capt. Huish called & bought both Philœ & S. Sabbas. Prepared partly to go to town on Wednesday. Not very well. Four to 5 ― walked. Dined at 6. a Mr.? & Mrs. Hardman. [Transcribed by Marco Graziosi from Houghton Library, Harvard […]

Sunday, 16 December 1860

Ojous headache. & cold. Cold grey day. Wrote to Georgio ― & Taylor & Drummonds ― (10£.) Ann Dickenson Edwards (A dreadful headache all day from some particular ale ― of which I only drank one glass yesterday.) At 3 Mrs. Davidson ― her son ― a very prepossessing intelligent youth ―& her daughters Father […]

Saturday, 15 December 1860

Brighter lighter whiter ― tighter. Sunshine ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Letters from Ann, W.N. ― Constance Wyatt. ― afternoon ― from J.B. Edwards ― & John Harford ˇ[very nice]. Painted at Bright’s Cerbara. But at 3 ˆ[2.30] W. Lushington came: ― & so I did little […]

Friday, 14 December 1860

XX7. Ἄσχεμαι ἡμέραι1 Horrible day! dark, cold ― damp ― filthy. painted at Brights Campagna but badly. ― [Transcribed by Marco Graziosi from Houghton Library, Harvard University, MS Eng. 797.3.] Bad days (NB). [↩]

Thursday, 13 December 1860

A day of blank. F. Cockerell went at 9. ― But I began to work on Thucydides ― in a new book ― & hated painting. Suddenly I did a little finish to the Philœ ― & then packed the Zagori & Philates ― now if ever, done. Then I packed the Philœ ― but […]

Wednesday, 12 December 1860

X6 ― δὲν δυνάμεθα νἀ φεύγωμεν ἀπὸ ταῦτα τά κακιά;1 Ill all the morning. Ἀλλὰ — ἐπιζιλὴ ἀπὸ τὸν Γεώργιον:2 ― as usual simple & straight. As to going out, as yet I see no clear way. ― If not, something definite must be arranged about G. If yes ― I do not know when […]