In the same category as the Michael Angelo studies may be placed the first sketch of "Samson Wrestling with the Lion," designed as an illustration for Dalziel's Bible. This drawing is also in the Leighton House Collection, also the original drawings for "The Spies' Escape" and "Samson at the Mill." The following was written with regard to it: "An animal model never 'sits.' The artist must catch the action he wants from fleeting suggestions. His imagination alone can guide his pencil when he depicts such action with realistic power. It is in a pencil drawing of a lion that we find the work that evinces, more distinctly perhaps than does any other of Leighton's utterances in art, the highest kind of imagination in the drawing of form in action, namely in the sketch of 'Samson Wrestling with the Lion' for the illustrations in Dalziel's Bible. Where, indeed, for vigour of invention, can we find a drawing to surpass these few pencil lines? The sinews in the legs and claws of the animal are drawn up, clenching the vacant air with a quivering grip; the tail straightened stiffly through the strain of the wrestling; the whole animal convulsed with the force of the struggle. This is treatment of form no model could suggest, no knowledge evolve, no labour or industry produce. A true imagination alone can inspire such vivid realism." The other subjects Leighton illustrated were "Death of Abel," "Moses Viewing the Promised Land," "Samson Carrying the Gates," "Abraham and the Angel," "Eliezer and Rebecca at the Well," "The Slaying of the First-born." [Illustration: ORIGINAL DRAWING FOR "SAMSON AND THE LION" IN DALZIEL'S BIBLE Leighton House Collection] * * * * * In 1862 Leighton illustrated George Eliot's great novel "Romola." He writes to his father:-- _Tuesday._ DEAR PAPA,--Though I am not able, I am sorry to say, to report the sale of any more of my pictures, you will be glad to hear of a commission just given me by G. Smith of the _Cornhill_ which is very acceptable to me. I am to illustrate (by-the-bye this is "_strictly confidential_") a novel about to appear in the _Cornhill_ from the hand of _Adam Bede_. It is an Italian story, the scene and period are Florence and the fifteenth century, nothing could "_ganter_" me better. It is to continue through _twelve_ numbers, in each of which are to be _two_ illustrations.