With Miss Kauffman, it appears, Fuseli was much enamoured; and although
he did not at any time hold her professional talents in high esteem,
yet he always spoke of her in terms of regard, and considered her as a
handsome, lively, and engaging woman.
The youth, fine manly countenance and conversational talents of Fuseli
made a deep impression upon most female hearts and minds: hence, Miss
Mary Moser (now better known as Mrs. Lloyd), the daughter of Mr. Moser,
who was in almost the daily habit of seeing and conversing with him,
also experienced their influence; and she flattered herself that the
feelings which she had were mutual.
If Fuseli ever had any affection for this lady while he was in England,
it was soon dissipated by change of scene and the pleasures which he
pursued when in Italy. The two following letters, which are extracted
from Mr. J. T. Smith's Life of Nollekens, tend to show the disposition
of both parties towards each other.
"If you have not forgotten at Rome those friends whom you
remembered at Florence, write to me from that nursery of arts and
raree-show of the world, which flourishes in ruins: tell me of
pictures, palaces, people, lakes, woods, and rivers; say if Old
Tiber droops with age, or whether his waters flow as clear, his
rushes grow as green, and his swans look as white, as those of
Father Thames; or write me your own thoughts and reflections,
which will be more acceptable than any description of any thing
Greece and Rome have done these two thousand years.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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