DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.62819#0035
LIFE OF RUBENS.
xxvii
instruction soon made competent to commence and
even to forward his large pictures: some of these
became excellent painters, and were employed by him
on all his great works. The wealth of the bishops
and priests, and the zeal which at that period actu-
ated all classes to enrich and embellish their churches,
brought an immense demand for pictures; and during
the space of ten years he was constantly engaged in
designing and completing many of those grand altar-
pieces which are described in the following catalogue;
besides these, he produced numerous sketches and
small pictures, painted wholly by his own hand.
The history of his life now approaches that memo-
rable epoch when he undertook the celebrated series of
twenty-one pictures, illustrative of the important events
in the life of Marie de Medicis; for this princely
order he was indebted to the Baron de Vicq, then
ambassador from the Archduke Albert and Isabella to
the Court of France, who being, among others, con-
sulted by the Queen respecting an artist capable of
such an undertaking, mentioned his countryman; at
the same time eulogizing his merits, not forgetting to
mention the high esteem in which he was held by his
royal master. The queen, satisfied with this recom-
mendation, requested the baron to write to the artist,
and invite him to her court.
Rubens lost no time in presenting himself at the
residence of the ambassador, by whom he was in-
troduced to the queen, who honoured him with instruc-
tions relative to the pictures required. The artist, on
his part, promised to use every exertion to expedite
them ; and added a request that, for the greater con-
xxvii
instruction soon made competent to commence and
even to forward his large pictures: some of these
became excellent painters, and were employed by him
on all his great works. The wealth of the bishops
and priests, and the zeal which at that period actu-
ated all classes to enrich and embellish their churches,
brought an immense demand for pictures; and during
the space of ten years he was constantly engaged in
designing and completing many of those grand altar-
pieces which are described in the following catalogue;
besides these, he produced numerous sketches and
small pictures, painted wholly by his own hand.
The history of his life now approaches that memo-
rable epoch when he undertook the celebrated series of
twenty-one pictures, illustrative of the important events
in the life of Marie de Medicis; for this princely
order he was indebted to the Baron de Vicq, then
ambassador from the Archduke Albert and Isabella to
the Court of France, who being, among others, con-
sulted by the Queen respecting an artist capable of
such an undertaking, mentioned his countryman; at
the same time eulogizing his merits, not forgetting to
mention the high esteem in which he was held by his
royal master. The queen, satisfied with this recom-
mendation, requested the baron to write to the artist,
and invite him to her court.
Rubens lost no time in presenting himself at the
residence of the ambassador, by whom he was in-
troduced to the queen, who honoured him with instruc-
tions relative to the pictures required. The artist, on
his part, promised to use every exertion to expedite
them ; and added a request that, for the greater con-