There is a painting in London’s National Portrait Gallery by Sir James Gunn of three writers who were very well-known in their own day. Entitled A Conversation Piece, it shows two writers seated at a table, one with pen in hand, while the third stands behind them. The seated writers are G.K. Chesterton and Hilaire Belloc; the one standing is Maurice Baring. With his customary whimsical wit…
