But when I turned to the Theseus and saw that every form was altered by action or repose, when I saw that the two sides of his back varied, one side stretched from the shoulder blade being pulled forward, and the other side compressed from the shoulder blade being pushed close to the spine as he rested on his elbow, with the belly flat because the bowels fell into the pelvis as he sat, — and when, turning to the Ilyssus, I saw the belly protruded, from the figure lying on its side, and again, when in the figure of the fighting metope I saw the muscle shown under the one arm-pit in that instantaneous action of darting out, — and left out in the other arm-pits because not wanted, — when I saw, in fact, the most heroic style of art combined with all the essential detail of actual life the thing was done at once and for ever.
Here were principles which the common sense of the English people would understand; here were principles which I had struggled for in my first picture with timidity and apprehension; here were the principles which the great Greeks in their finest time established, and here was I, the most prominent historical student, perfectly qualified to appreciate all this by my own determined mode of study under the influence of my friend the watchmaker,* perfectly comprehending the hint at the skin by knowing well what was underneath it!
* ‘The watchmaker’ was a man Haydon names only as Reynolds, who worked in Plymouth, the town where Haydon grew up. Reynolds encouraged him to pursue his dream of being an artist at a time when Haydon’s family were firmly opposed, and furnished him with materials on anatomy. He should not be confused with the eminent artist Sir Joshua Reynolds (1723-1792), of Plympton (now a suburb of Plymouth), though Sir Joshua’s Discourses on Art were another factor in Haydon’s decision. “I read one. It placed so much reliance on honest industry, it expressed so strong a conviction that all men were equal and that application made the difference, that I fired up at once.” ‘The watchmaker’ was Haydon’s way of distinguishing the two men.
Archive
Word Games
Spinners Find in Think and Speak
For each group of words, compose a sentence that uses all three. You can use any form of the word: for example, cat → cats, go → went, or quick → quickly, though neigh → neighbour is stretching it a bit.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 Astonish. Else. Utmost.
2 Nature. Paint. Principle.
3 Alter. Pelvis. Pit.
Variations: 1. include direct and indirect speech 2. include one or more of these words: although, because, despite, either/or, if, unless, until, when, whether, which, who 3. use negatives (not, isn’t, neither/nor, never, nobody etc.)
Confusables Find in Think and Speak
In each group below, you will find words that are similar to one another, but not exactly the same. Compose your own sentences to bring out the similarities and differences between them, whether in meaning, grammar or use.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
Homonyms Find in Think and Speak
Each of the words below has more than one possible meaning. Compose your own sentences to show what those different meanings are.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1. Mine. 2. Keep. 3. Yard. 4. Order. 5. See. 6. Show. 7. Well. 8. Park. 9. Pass.
Add Vowels Find in Think and Speak
Make words by adding vowels to each group of consonants below. You may add as many vowels as you like before, between or after the consonants, but you may not add any consonants or change the order of those you have been given. See if you can beat our target of common words.
vry (5+1)
every. ivory. ovary. vary. very.
aviary.
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