DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.61252#0158
114 THE BRIDGEWATER GALLERY.
the centre; on either side a procession of nymphs, who ap-
pear to be approaching the temple with offerings, bearing
boughs of myrtle, &c.; in all twenty-seven figures. The
style of this little picture is very pure and beautiful. It
has apparently ornamented a piece of furniture.
P. 7 in. high, by 2 ft. 5 in. in length.
POUSSIN (Nicolo), b. 1594 ; d. 1665. [As Poussin was a native of
France, he is claimed by the French school; but the truth is, he be-
longed to no school—or, if to any, to the Italian, in a general sense.
Essentially poetical in mind, severely classical in his taste, when this
noble painter failed in truth of conception, it was in subjects where
the antique is out of place, as in many of his scripture subjects, which
are generally treated far more in the classical than in the religious
spirit. In keeping as far as possible from the common-place—the
vulgar—the forced—he fell at times into the opposite fault—a cold
and studied correctness. He was a man of mild and modest temper,
devoted to his art, and ambitious only of the honours it conferred.]
The Seven Sacraments of the Christian Church according
to the Roman ritual, represented in a series of seven pic-
tures. Poussin painted this series twice, with considerable
variations. The first set, rather smaller in size, was painted
about the year 1636, for his friend and patron, the Cava-
liere del Pozzo, and is at present in the collection of the
Duke of Rutland, at Belvoir Castle. The second set, on
a larger scale, was executed for his friend, M. de Chante-
lou. He began with the picture of “Extreme Unction,”
which, though the last of the series, was the first which
was painted, and sent to Paris in 1644; and completed his
task with the picture of “ Marriage,” which was sent to
Paris in 1648.
The series should be considered in the following order:—
80 Baptism.'—Illustrated by the baptism of the Saviour
in the Jordan. Composition of twenty figures, assembled
on the bank of a river. St. John is in the act of pouring
water from a cup on the head of Christ, who kneels before
him; the dove is seen descending from above. With this
principal action the other groups around are connected by
the centre; on either side a procession of nymphs, who ap-
pear to be approaching the temple with offerings, bearing
boughs of myrtle, &c.; in all twenty-seven figures. The
style of this little picture is very pure and beautiful. It
has apparently ornamented a piece of furniture.
P. 7 in. high, by 2 ft. 5 in. in length.
POUSSIN (Nicolo), b. 1594 ; d. 1665. [As Poussin was a native of
France, he is claimed by the French school; but the truth is, he be-
longed to no school—or, if to any, to the Italian, in a general sense.
Essentially poetical in mind, severely classical in his taste, when this
noble painter failed in truth of conception, it was in subjects where
the antique is out of place, as in many of his scripture subjects, which
are generally treated far more in the classical than in the religious
spirit. In keeping as far as possible from the common-place—the
vulgar—the forced—he fell at times into the opposite fault—a cold
and studied correctness. He was a man of mild and modest temper,
devoted to his art, and ambitious only of the honours it conferred.]
The Seven Sacraments of the Christian Church according
to the Roman ritual, represented in a series of seven pic-
tures. Poussin painted this series twice, with considerable
variations. The first set, rather smaller in size, was painted
about the year 1636, for his friend and patron, the Cava-
liere del Pozzo, and is at present in the collection of the
Duke of Rutland, at Belvoir Castle. The second set, on
a larger scale, was executed for his friend, M. de Chante-
lou. He began with the picture of “Extreme Unction,”
which, though the last of the series, was the first which
was painted, and sent to Paris in 1644; and completed his
task with the picture of “ Marriage,” which was sent to
Paris in 1648.
The series should be considered in the following order:—
80 Baptism.'—Illustrated by the baptism of the Saviour
in the Jordan. Composition of twenty figures, assembled
on the bank of a river. St. John is in the act of pouring
water from a cup on the head of Christ, who kneels before
him; the dove is seen descending from above. With this
principal action the other groups around are connected by