Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 37, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 February 1905 — A WOODEN INTRODUCTION. [ARTICLE]

A WOODEN INTRODUCTION.

ISow Gainsborough Got Acquainted With Thlckne»»c. (Gainsborough, the artist, was born alt .fiu&bury, in England, and there, -says Lord Ronald Gower, he designed rhis first work of art.. The orchard of ihis father’s place had been repeatedly •plundered of fruit. No one knew who •the thief might he until one day young •Gainsborough saw there a rough looking man leaning his elbows on the brick wall. He made a sketch of the fellow, and from this portrait the thief was afterward identified. Later the boy cut out a rough figure :from wood and painted it in oils in the .likeness of this man. The scarecrow was known as “Jack Peartree.” It probably represents Gainsborough’s first attempt at working In oils. It was the means of introducing the artist to one of his most intimate friends, Thicknesse, the lieutenant governor of the Landguard fort, near Ipswich. Thicknesse was o„ne day walking with a friend when he perceived what seemed to be a melancholy faced countryman, with his arms locked together, leaning over the garden wall. He pointed out the; doleful figure to bis companion, who, it seems, was acquainted with it, “He has been there all day,” said the gentleman. “I pity him. He must be either mad or very miserable.” Thicknesse insisted on approaching the wretched man and to his delighted surprise found him to be Jack Peartree. So charmed was he with Jack that he lost no time in becoming acquainted with tlie author of Jack's being, with the result of a warm and lasting friendship.