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)

xxvi

LIFE OF RUBENS.

several other distinguished persons, members of the
Order of St. Ildefonso*, being struck with the extraor-
dinary beauty of the picture, requested the artist to
paint one for the altar of their chapel, in the church of
St. Jacques de Caudenberg, the subject of which should
represent some passage in the life of their tutelar saint.
The picture was shortly after produced (a sketch
having been previously made and submitted to the
brotherhood); it represented the Virgin investing
St. Ildefonso with the chasublef of his Order]:. The
talents and genius of Rubens were now universally ac-
knowledged. Patronized by the Court, and honoured
in a particular manner by the Archduke Albert,—
esteemed by the nobles and courted by the clergy
and other wealthy individuals, he found such numerous
demands for the employment of his pencil, that it was
quite impossible that his individual exertions could
satisfy them; he therefore received into his studio
several talented youths, whom his ready manner of
* An order originally instituted in Portugal during the vice-
royalty of the archduke, and through his interest transferred, with
all its privileges, by a special bull, to Brussels, in 1596. Of this
distinguished order the archduke-cardinal was chief, and among its
members were found the names of nineteen Knights of the Golden
Fleece, and nearly the whole of the nobles of the court. The solemn
respect in which this institution was held induced a friend of the artist
to advise him to register his name for election as one of its members,
to which he prudently replied, that he desired nothing more sincerely,
quoting at the same time the proverb, Regis ad exemplum totus com-
ponitur orbis.
■f Chasuble, a term frequently used in this work, signisying the
splendid mantle worn by a Catholic priest.
J For description seep. 91, No. 295.