He was an artist by profession, and it is whispered that he suggested some of the traits in the character of the delicate-minded Philip Wakem in the 'Mill on the floss.
"George Eliot"
Mathilde Blind
A similar passage occurs in 'The Mill on the floss,' where Philip Wakem says: "The greatest of painters only once painted a mysteriously divine child; he couldn't have told how he did it, and we can't tell why we feel it to be divine."
"George Eliot"
Mathilde Blind