One morning in July, 1863, when Miss Fitz-
James went to him, he was painting one of his most
lovely pictures — one composed of white grapes, two
peaches, and some holly. He told his young visitor
of the difficulty he had met with in procuring the
holly, having obtained it at last from a stranger, in
whose garden he saw it at Hampstead Heath, when
being driven out in the little pony carriage belonging
to a friend, who used to call and take him for drives.
It was the only time Miss Fitz-James ever found her
dear old master low-spirited; it was just after his
accident, and that morning he had heard of the death
of his old friend and brother-artist, WiUiam Mulready.
The night before, Mr. Mulready had been at work
in the Academy, working, as he used to say himself,
." As if I were drawing for the prize." He was just
four years the senior of William Hunt. Seven months
later, the mourner was himself laid to rest.
It was about 1864 that Miss Fitz-James first sent
her works to the Society of Female Artists — the ex-
hibition being then held in Pall Mall. Mrs. Elizabeth
Murray was then secretary. To Miss Fitz-James' sur-
prise and gratification, all her pictures were purchased,
and the following year, those she seijit were not only
sold, but several commissions ensued. One picture
of fruit was purchased by a gentleman named Dennys.
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276 ENGLISH FEMALE ABTISTS.
