 The perceived lack of respect shown to one of England 's leading artists led to some outcry , and attacks in the press upon the then very unpopular Albert ; William Makepeace Thackeray wrote in 1845 : " Think of the greatest patronage in the world giving forty pounds for pictures worth four hundred — condescending to buy works from humble men who could not refuse , and paying for them below their value ! Think of august powers and principalities ordering the works of such a great artist as Etty to be hacked out of the palace @-@ wall ! That was a slap in the face to every artist in England . " 
