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Replies to Minor Queries.
_Portrait of Pope_ (Vol. vii., p. 180.).--I cannot at this movement reply
to MR. J. KNIGHT'S Query, but perhaps can correct an error in it. There was
no _White_ of Derby; but Edward[9] _Wright_ of that city, was an artist of
high repute. And I have in my possession a portrait of Pope done by him. On
the back of this portrait is the following inscription:
"Edward Wright, the painter of this picture, was an intimate friend of
Mr. Richardson, and obtained leave from him to copy the portrait of Mr.
Pope; which Mr. R. was then painting, and had nearly finished. When the
outline was sketched out by E. Wright, he happened to meet Mr. Pope at
dinner, and on mentioning to him how he was employed, Mr. Pope said:
'Why should you take a copy, when the original is at your service? I
will come and sit to you.' He did so, and this picture was finished
from Mr. Pope himself. This account I had from the late William Wright,
Esq., my honoured uncle, who had the picture from the painter himself.
At Mr. Wright's death, it came to his widow, who gave it to my
brother[10]; at whose decease, it came to me.
"WILLIAM FALCONER, M.D., F.R.S.
"Bath, March 21, 1803."
The size of the picture is two feet five inches and a quarter by two feet
one-eighth of an inch. It is a profile. It has never been engraved, and is
in good condition.