DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.73712#0021
Anthony RAPHAEL MENGS'
3
much envied by them to whom his merits had
rendered him offensive.
The sorefathers of Mengs were of Lusatia. His
Grandfather was establiihed at Hamburgh, and
srom thence went to Copenhagen, where the
Father of Mengs was born. This being his
twentieth child, according to the account of his
brothers, he knew not what name to give him,
and on opening the Bible, the first name which
presented itself was Ismael, which he made
choice of. He had for Godfather a Painter of
no superior abilities, but this was a sufficient mo-
tive for applying the boy's talents to painting.
From this inferior school Ismael was soon remo-
ved to that of Mr. Cofre a Frenchman and
the best painter at that court, and procuring some
productions of Vandyke from a friend, he acquired
by copying him the art of colouring ; for which
perfection he was remarkable during his life. His
matter had a niece of whom Ismael became ena-
moured, but this asse&ed lady not being able to
suffer the smell ofoil, the good Ismael in obedience
to her will, dedicated himself alone to miniature
painting, and with such application and success,
that in a ihort time he arrived to great ,erfe&ion
in the art, and then was united to this beautisul,
though capricious lady.On account of a contagious
distemper, he soon aster abandoned that country,
and travelled to various courts of Germany, where
he acquired the difficult art of painting in Ena-
mel, for which he was ever after very samous.
From this alliance our Mengs was born, in the
city ofAusig, in Bohemia,the 12th.osMarch1728,
3
much envied by them to whom his merits had
rendered him offensive.
The sorefathers of Mengs were of Lusatia. His
Grandfather was establiihed at Hamburgh, and
srom thence went to Copenhagen, where the
Father of Mengs was born. This being his
twentieth child, according to the account of his
brothers, he knew not what name to give him,
and on opening the Bible, the first name which
presented itself was Ismael, which he made
choice of. He had for Godfather a Painter of
no superior abilities, but this was a sufficient mo-
tive for applying the boy's talents to painting.
From this inferior school Ismael was soon remo-
ved to that of Mr. Cofre a Frenchman and
the best painter at that court, and procuring some
productions of Vandyke from a friend, he acquired
by copying him the art of colouring ; for which
perfection he was remarkable during his life. His
matter had a niece of whom Ismael became ena-
moured, but this asse&ed lady not being able to
suffer the smell ofoil, the good Ismael in obedience
to her will, dedicated himself alone to miniature
painting, and with such application and success,
that in a ihort time he arrived to great ,erfe&ion
in the art, and then was united to this beautisul,
though capricious lady.On account of a contagious
distemper, he soon aster abandoned that country,
and travelled to various courts of Germany, where
he acquired the difficult art of painting in Ena-
mel, for which he was ever after very samous.
From this alliance our Mengs was born, in the
city ofAusig, in Bohemia,the 12th.osMarch1728,