Smith, John: A catalogue raisonné of the works of the most eminent Dutch, Flemish, and French painters: in which is included a short biographical notice of the artists, with a copious description of their principal pictures : a statement of the prices at which such pictures have been sold at public sales on the continent and in England; a reference the the galleries and private collections in which a large portion are at present; and the names of the artists by whom they have been engraved; to which is added, a brief notice of the scholars & imitators of the great masters of the above schools (Part 2) (London: Smith and Son, 1830)

LIFE OF RUBENS.

XXV

In the early part of the following year, 1610, Rubens
married Elizabeth Brant, daughter of John Brant (a
doctor of laws and municipal secretary of Antwerp),
and of Dame Clara de Moy, sister to his brother Philip’s
wife. Hitherto the painter had not exhibited any of
his works at Antwerp, although many applications for
that purpose had been made by amateurs and others
interested in matters of art. Among the most eager to
see his productions were Cornelius Jansens and Wen-
ceslaus Koeberger, painters of some eminence. The
former had the temerity to send him a challenge for a
trial of skill in the art, the decision of which was to be
submitted to the connoisseurs of the Pays Bas. Rubens
good-humouredly replied, “ that his pictures had long
“ since passed the ordeal of the connoisseurs of Italy
“ and Spain, and that Jansens was at liberty to expose
“ his in the same way, when and wherever he pleased.”
The archduke and duchess shortly after summoned
Rubens to court; he was then nominated a councillor,
and held his first conference with the ministers in the
presence of their highnesses, who, at the conclusion, were
pleased to express their warmest approbation of the
wisdom and eloquence he had displayed in the cabinet:
at the same time they signified a desire that he would
paint a picture of the Holy Family to decorate the
oratory of their private chapel*. This picture raised
the painter exceedingly in their estimation, and its
exhibition in the apartments of the palace excited
universal approbation; confirming what fame had pre-
viously announced. The nobles of the court, and

* See p, 231, No. 812.