The Marquis de Marigny, like his sister, Madame de Pompadour, loved and
protected the arts. It was mainly through his influence that Vernet was
invited to Paris in 1752, and commissioned to paint the sea-ports of
France. No one could have been found better fitted for the ungrateful
task, which, though offering so few resources, required so much
knowledge. Thus imprisoned in official programme, Vernet must have felt
ill at ease, if we may judge from a letter which he wrote to the Marquis
at a subsequent period, with respect to another order. Indeed, the truth
of his remarks were verified in the very series just mentioned, which
are not considered among his happiest productions. The following is the
main part of the letter referred to, dated May 6th, 1765:
"I am not accustomed to make sketches for my pictures. My general
practice is to compose on the canvass of the picture I am about to
execute, and to paint it immediately, while my imagination is still
warm with conception; the size, too, of my canvas tells me at once
what I have to do, and makes me compose accordingly. I am sure, if
I made a sketch beforehand, that I should not only not put in it
what might be in the picture, but that I should also throw into it
all the fire I possess, and the larger picture would, in
consequence, become cold. This would also be making a sort of copy,
which it would annoy me to do. Thus, sir, after thoroughly weighing
and examining everything, I think it best _that I should be left
free to act as I like_. This is what I require from all those for
whom I wish to do my best; and this is also what I beg your friend
towards whom I am desirous of acting conscientiously, to let me do.
He can tell me what size he wishes the picture to be, with the
general subject of it, such as calm, tempest, sun-rise, sun-set,
moon-light, landscape, marine-piece, etc., but nothing more.
Experience has taught me that, when I am constrained by the least
thing, I always succeed worse than generally.
"If you wish to know the usual prices of my pictures, they are as
follows:--For every one four feet wide, and two and a half, or
three high, £60, for every one three feet wide, and of a
proportionate height, £48; for every one two feet and a half wide
£40; for every one two feet wide, £32; and for every one eighteen
inches wide, £24, with larger or smaller ones as required; but it
is as well to mention that I succeed much better with the large
ones."