Their very forms grow blurred and change their colour Into dim snaky wreaths of purple pallor, Fading away with Honour's fading Law Into the pale sad ghosts that Dante saw; Which we too see, crowned with departing glory, When Leighton's genius deepens Dante's Story. R.A. _6th April 1861._ [19] D.G. Rossetti, in a letter to William Allingham, May 10, 1861, writes: "Leighton might, as you say, have made a burst had not his pictures been ill-placed mostly--indeed one of them (the only very good one, _Lieder ohne Worte_) is the only instance of very striking unfairness in the place." [20] "_Lieder ohne Worte._" [21] "Paolo and Francesca." [22] These two pictures were painted from John Hanson Walker. Leighton sent both to the Royal Academy Exhibition of 1862 with the titles "Duet" and "Rustic Music." The first only was accepted. [23] See water-colour and chalk drawings: Leighton House Collection. [24] "Sea Echoes." [25] The Hon. Mrs. Alfred Sartoris, sister-in-law of Leighton's friend, Mr. Edward Sartoris. CHAPTER II ILLUSTRATIONS FOR _CORNHILL MAGAZINE_--FRESCO FOR LYNDHURST CHURCH--ASSOCIATE OF THE ROYAL ACADEMY--MRS. LEIGHTON'S DEATH 1863-1865 In 1860 Leighton drew his first illustration for the _Cornhill Magazine_:-- _Translation._] _Friday, 30th November 1860._ MY DEAR FRIEND AND MASTER,--Best thanks for your dear letter of the 7th, thanks also especially, because in your kind praise you do not spare criticism also; you could give me no better proof that you still esteem and love your old pupil. I feel the justice of your remarks about the drapery of the Saviour very much, and can only say in my excuse that I have treated this kind of subject very little, for I am only really a profane fellow; but should I at some future time again treat such a theme, I should endeavour to avoid similar faults. I send you this time, for fun, a proof impression of a woodcut after a drawing I made for one of our good monthly periodicals (_The Cornhill Magazine_). It seems to me to be not bad for wood. It illustrates a poem, and represents Ariadne kneeling on an eminence, looking out for Theseus. This as a preliminary; I hope to send you something in April. DEAREST MAMMY,--My wretched picture is causing more delays! I am very sorry to say I shan't be able to get to Bath before Wednesday evening. I am due at Stourhead the 27th; this I cannot defer any more, as I must be on duty with the Rifle Corps at the beginning of September, and can't do all I have to do in less than a week--this will, however, still leave me three weeks, all but two days, at Bath.