The _Youth’s Companion_ tells this incident about the peculiar
moods of Turner, the artist, in the matter of selling his pictures:
At times nothing could induce him to part with one of them, and
at other times he would receive a customer with the greatest
affability of voice and manner, and readily settle upon the sum
to be paid for one of his treasures.
On one occasion, when he was offered one thousand pounds apiece
for some old sketchbooks, he turned them over leaf by leaf
before the eyes of the would-be purchaser, saying, “Well, would
you really like to have them?”
Then, just as the man proceeded to take possession of the books,
Turner, with a tantalizing “I dare say you would!” suddenly
thrust them into a drawer and turned the key in the lock,
leaving the customer dumb with indignation.
On another occasion a rich manufacturer of Birmingham managed to
secure an entrance into the artist’s house, after considerable
parley with the disagreeable janitress whom Turner employed. He
hurried up-stairs to the gallery. In a moment Turner dashed out
upon him with anything but a hospitable air. The visitor bowed
politely and introduced himself, saying he had come to buy some
pictures.
“Don’t want to sell,” said the artist gruffly.
“Have you ever seen our Birmingham pictures, Mr. Turner?”
inquired the visitor blandly.
“Never heard of ’em,” returned the artist.
The manufacturer now took an attractive package of crisp
Birmingham bank-notes from his wallet.
“Mere paper,” said Turner contemptuously.
“To be bartered for mere canvas,” retorted the visitor calmly,
waving his hand in the direction of some paintings.
This ready wit and tone of cool depreciation had the effect
of putting the erratic artist in a good humor at once. He
changed his manner immediately, and not long after his visitor
departed, having bought several fine paintings, and leaving the
comfortable sum of five thousand pounds behind him.
(860)
See ODD BEHAVIOR.