Show A pictorial illusion philip 11 calderon was elected A B A in 1804 the same year and at the same time as frederick leighton nor baa the royal academy ever elected two men who have been more devoted to its service those student days in paris with his friend marco when they had rather to rough it choso doleful days of doubt when ho feared he would have to give up all thoughts of art were all past he was in a pleasant and lofty studio in marlborough place built at his own expense and there were pictures on the easel that commanded four figures his painting partook of the happy times his touch was firm and confident his color joyous and he showed that in dexterity at least he was not to be outdone out done among other things he painted chiefly for amusement or as a fetch as we used to call it a portrait of his wife life size standing in a doorway with her hand on the door handle and her foot on the step looking back over her shoulder as though she quitting the room the picture was placed against the paneled wall of tho studio and was such a perfect il luison that it looked not like a picture but a reality so much so that genial tom landseer Laud seer the engraver who called one day mado n most profound bow to it and addressing the effley said pray do not leave us madam 0 A storey A R A in magazine of art |