“AUGUST 29. Died in London, in her 29th year, Emma, the wife of M.
Soyer, of the Reform Club House, Pall Mall.
“Madame Soyer (formerly Emma Jones) was born in London in 1813. Her
father died when she was only four years of age, and left her to the
care of a fond mother, who sacrificed the prospect of an increasing
fortune to devote her time entirely to the education of her child, who
showed great inclination for study. The usual instructions were received
with success, the French and Italian languages soon acquired, and music
became a favorite amusement; in fact, it appeared that whatever was
undertaken was of easy accomplishment.
“About the year 1817, M. Simonau, a Flemish artist, pupil of the
celebrated Baron Gros, visited London, and brought with him some of his
works, which were purchased by an antiquary, who advised him to open an
academy for drawing and painting, which he did, and in a short time
gained great celebrity. Mrs. Jones having heard of the fame of M.
Simonau, went to him with her little girl, and wished him to give her
lessons; the extreme youth of the child at first made him hesitate, but
at length he consented, and when Emma had been with him about six
months, she showed such decided talent, that her mother proposed to
remunerate him for the loss of all his other pupils if he would give his
whole time to her daughter’s instruction; to this, after some
consideration, he agreed, and every succeeding year her improvement was
so great, that before the age of twelve she had drawn more than a
hundred portraits from life with surprising fidelity.
“During the same time she advanced wonderfully in music, under the
eminent pianist, Ancot, who, at that time, was patronized by her Royal
Highness the Duchess of Kent, and was a great friend of Rossini and
Weber--the last of these heard little Emma play a passage of his ‘Der
Freischutz’ with so much execution, that he declared, in the most
flattering terms, that she would become a brilliant star in the musical
world. M. Ancot strongly recommended that she should adopt music as a
profession; and, as her mother feared that drawing would injure her
health, his opinion was for some time adopted. Through the following
circumstances, however, painting was finally chosen instead of music.
Mrs. Jones (who, in 1820, had become the wife of M. Simonau) having gone
to the continent for her health, young Emma one day looking out of a
window at Dunkirk, saw some children blowing bubbles, and immediately,
with a piece of charcoal, made a sketch of the group upon the wall: the
execution of this rude drawing evinced so much power, that it was at
once finally decided by her mother and M. Simonau to adhere to the
original intention of making painting her principal study, and that
music should only be cultivated as an accomplishment. A few years after
a picture from this sketch was sold at Liverpool for sixty pounds.
“At an early age many original paintings and portraits bore ample
testimony to the perseverance of the mother, the care of the master, and
the genius of the young artist.
“In 1836, Miss Emma Jones was married to M. Soyer at St. George’s
church, Hanover square.
“In 1839, the poor mother died, happy that her daughter had attained
eminence by her talents, and enjoyed prosperity with the husband of her
choice. But, alas! the happiness of nearly six years was destroyed in a
few hours; Madame Soyer was taken in premature labour, and died on the
same day, regretted by all who knew her. She was of a most amiable and
cheerful disposition, a kind friend, excellent and affectionate wife,
too modest to set much value upon her works, leaving the palette to
attend to her household duties.
“The acuteness of her husband’s feelings was painfully increased by his
unfortunate absence, being at Brussels at the time with the suite of the
Duke of Saxe Cobourg-Gotha, who had seen M. Soyer in his culinary
department at the Reform Club, and having greatly admired several of
Madame Soyer’s pictures, did her the honour to subscribe for a print
from her picture of the ‘Young Israelites,’ which has since been
dedicated, by permission, to his Serene Highness.”[31]
“The death of this lady has been a source of great regret to all the
lovers and encouragers of art. Cut off at a moment when her reputation
was about to make her fortune, and when, in spite of all obstacles, her
merits were become known to her countrymen, it is a sad reflection that
she can no longer enjoy the encomiums she so justly deserves, nor share
in those rewards which were about to be conferred on her. Besides an
immense variety of drawings, sketches, and studies, she had painted
upwards of 400 pictures, some of them of very high merit, and some of
them which, when exhibited in the Louvre, obtained the highest meed of
praise. No female artist has exceeded this lady as a colorist, and very
few artists of the rougher sex have produced portraits so full of
character, spirit, and vigour, and that boldness and breadth of light
and shadow which constitutes one of the highest triumphs of art. She was
exceedingly clever in recognizing the character of those who sat to her,
so that her portraits convey the mind as well as the features of the
sitters, their thoughts and sentiments. Her group, already mentioned,
depicting Two Boys selling Lemons, has been recently engraved by Gerard
of Paris, in mezzotint, and is a fine illustration of the talents of the
deceased. It partakes of the style of Murillo; but, though in his
manner, it has not the subserviency of imitation, nor the stiffness of
copy. There are a few of Madame Soyer’s paintings at the Reform
Club-house, which will well repay a visit from those who have a taste
for genuine merit and real nature.”--_Times._
The three following letters are selected from a numerous correspondence,
as exhibiting at once sympathy for her loss, and admiration for her
talents.
“Gotha, le 4 Janvier, 1843.