He wanted to paint one of me, and said he would make short work of it and not
tucker me out; so I sat, and he made the best portrait that ever was -- and
did it in eight hours. I never saw such a man to handle oils and skirmish
with a brush. He is terribly accurate. From charcoal sketch to finish he never
rubbed out a stroke; once made, it stayed. If he should offer to give the portrait
to me I wouldn't let him, but I should want to, all the same. I have
never been anxiouser than other people to own a portrait before, but it is different
this time; with a little pains this one could be taught to speak -- not German,
of course, but the other tongues.
- letter to Henry H. Rogers, 26 September 1898
Poster based
on the painting of Twain by Ignace Spiridon, 1898.
Posters were made of the original portrait and used as promotional items in
a revival play of
PUDD'NHEAD WILSON
performed in 1901. The Shipman Bros. were responsible for the revival.
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