Now! Then! Painter Joseph Farington hears of a curious hobby of his Yorkshire colleague Francis Nicholson

24 March 1803: Painter Joseph Farington hears of a curious hobby of his Yorkshire colleague Francis Nicholson

Joseph Farington. 1923. The Farington Diary, Vol. 2 (August 23, 1802, to September 13, 1804). Ed. James Greig. London: Hutchinson and Co. Get it:

Excerpt

Constable called & took away his sketches. I was at home all the morning, painting as usual. Machell and Daniell dined with me. Machell spoke much of Nicholson, who makes drawings by stopping out the light parts. He comes from Whitby in Yorkshire. Nicholson is upwards of 40 years old. He is a sensible man and had a great mechanical turn. He says he requires exercise, and therefore employs himself in planing wood etc. He has made an organ.

Order the book

Subscribe to the free daily email

To facilitate reading, the spelling and punctuation of elderly excerpts have generally been modernised, and distracting excision scars concealed. My selections, translations, and editions are copyright.

Abbreviations

Comment

Something to say? Get in touch

Original

March 24.—Constable called & took away his Sketches.—I wasat home all the morning painting as usual. Machell & Daniell dined with me.—Machell spoke much of Nicholson who makes drawings by stopping out the light parts. He comes from Whitby in Yorkshire. Machell has 5 Sons and a daughter. His eldest Son is between 16 & 17 years old. His daughter abt. 2 years & old. He lost 2 daugrs. the eldest if living would have now been 19 years old.
Nicholson is upwards of 40 years old. He is a sensible man & hada great mechanical turn.—He says He requires exercise and therefore employ s himself in planing wood &c. He has made an Organ.

109 words.