TATE GALLERY ROMANCE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 17 September 1908, Page 1

TATE GALLERY ROMANCE.

| IN LOVE WITH A PICTURE. j HAPPY SEQUEL. In its own particular year, one of the most charming pictures exhibited ai. the Royal Academy, says the Otago "Daily Times" London correspondent, wae a picture entitled merely "Ethel." Everyone wanted to know who the fair sitter could be. Sho was a charming girl, about 14 years of age, dressed simply in black, seated easily on an ordinary chair, with ankles naturally crossed ; she wore black silk stockings and pretty patent-leather shoes. Her features were [refined, her expression charming, and her hair was of rich cold. This picture appealed strongly to the Chantry bequest, with tho result that it was purchased for the nation, and placed, in due course, in the ■■ Tate Gallery, London. It must be very familiar to New Zealanders who make a point of visiting that gallery; such a charming portrait cannot possibly be passed by unnoticed. It is only to-day, however, that the London public generally is aware of the identity of the fair 6itter. And enlightenment has come about in an un- ' mnal and unexpected manner, j Two years ago a rich American tou- [ rist. Mr Harold Abbot Titcomb, of New Orleans, went to the Tate Gallery in the ordinary sight-seeing couTse. He waa immensely taken with the picture, and be would not rest until he found | out the identity of the originals, who,. .' by the way. is to be found in another Dortrait group in the same gallery call, erl "The Sisters.", Both pictures are j by the same artist, Mr R. Peacock, and ! the elder sister in the latter portrait ' happens to be the painter's wife. So it ■ is iust as well that Mr Titcomb did not fall in love with Mrs Peacock. ' In due course, the enterprising f American was made acquainted with ■ '"Ethel." His first step was to write ! -to the artist and ask if he would sell 1 ' him a copy of it. Mr Peacock replied . that he would give him the name of an artist friend who would execute the ■copy. In this way they got into correspondence, and then on to personal interviews : before long they became very friendly. Then, at Mr Peacock's stuPdio. "Ethel" herself— Miss Ethel Brignail — was made acquainted' with Mr Titcomb. He not only possessed himself ' of the copy of the portrait, but he I -promptly showed a desire to secure tho " original, and he became a suitor for " the lady's hand. The lady consented, * and her family, finding him an excel- . lent young man, consented also. I I The wedding took place this week at " i Wallington. in Surrey, and created an 1 immense degree of interest. It was a very pretty ceremony. The brid© has L not changed in appearance since she appeared before the public as a schooltrirl "Ethel." except that "she wears her hair up." Her little page attendant war Mr Peacock's youthful son, who has also figmred in a well-known picture called "Out of Everywhere Into Here." The best man was Mr Grenfell. The honeymoon is to be spent in Canada and in the State of Maine. But Mr Titcomb, in spite of his large American interests, intends in future to reside in England with his bride ; he is a direct descendant of John and Priscilla Alden, the lovers in Longfellow's poem "The , Courtship of Miles Standish." By proj fession he is a mining engineer. All | London wishes the young couple every ■ happiness.