Look well and carefully at the predella first. Try to imagine the
Oriental Queen behind that veil, then observe the way in which the
features are expressed through the veil; and then, but not till then,
come into the adjoining room and see the picture itself, see what
Isis really is (according to the sublime idea of Philip Aylwin) when
Faith and Love, the twin angels of all true art, upraise the veil.'
He then turned and passed through the folding-doors into a room of
great size, crowded with easels, upon which pictures were resting.
The predella before me seemed a miracle of imaginative power. At that
time I had not seen the work of the great poet-painter of modern
times whom Wilderspin called 'the Master,' and by whom he had been
unconsciously inspired.
'Most beautiful!' my mother ejaculated, as we three lingered before
the predella. 'Do look at the filmy texture of the veil.'
'Looks more like steam than a white veil, don't you know?' said
Sleaford.
'Like steam, my lord?' exclaimed Wilderspin from the next room. 'The
painter of that veil had peculiar privileges.
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