DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.62819#0037
LIFE OF RUBENS.
xxix
“ of your researches; ” and, showing his pencils, ob-
served, “ these have long since obtained the magic
“ power of turning all they touch into gold.”
As soon as these pictures were completed, the artist
accompanied them to Paris, in order to finish the
portraits of several of the principal characters, and
superintend the placing of the pictures in the Palace
of the Luxembourg: while thus engaged, he was
frequently honoured with visits from the queen, who
took a particular pleasure in his conversation, and
would sometimes place herself by his side and forbid
him to rise from his seat. The completion of these
pictures was succeeded by an order for four portraits,
vi%. that of the Queen, in the character of Bellona, the
Grand Duke and Duchess of Tuscany, and of the
artist himself. When the series was finished, the
queen entered the gallery on the day they were
arranged, attended by many distinguished persons, and
was conducted by the painter through the apartment,
when he explained to her majesty the meaning of the
numerous allegories introduced by him for the purpose
of pictorial illustration. The great satisfaction ex-
pressed by her majesty at the manner in which he
had performed his task, and the praises she bestowed
on the several pictures, were reiterated by the com-
pany ; many pressing invitations were given to him to
reside at Paris and attach himself to the court: to all
which he replied, “ That, being engaged by every tie
“ of gratitude to his own sovereign, to whom he owed
“ his best services, he was under the necessity of
“ declining the honour proposed.” A few days after
he obtained an audience of the queen, when her
xxix
“ of your researches; ” and, showing his pencils, ob-
served, “ these have long since obtained the magic
“ power of turning all they touch into gold.”
As soon as these pictures were completed, the artist
accompanied them to Paris, in order to finish the
portraits of several of the principal characters, and
superintend the placing of the pictures in the Palace
of the Luxembourg: while thus engaged, he was
frequently honoured with visits from the queen, who
took a particular pleasure in his conversation, and
would sometimes place herself by his side and forbid
him to rise from his seat. The completion of these
pictures was succeeded by an order for four portraits,
vi%. that of the Queen, in the character of Bellona, the
Grand Duke and Duchess of Tuscany, and of the
artist himself. When the series was finished, the
queen entered the gallery on the day they were
arranged, attended by many distinguished persons, and
was conducted by the painter through the apartment,
when he explained to her majesty the meaning of the
numerous allegories introduced by him for the purpose
of pictorial illustration. The great satisfaction ex-
pressed by her majesty at the manner in which he
had performed his task, and the praises she bestowed
on the several pictures, were reiterated by the com-
pany ; many pressing invitations were given to him to
reside at Paris and attach himself to the court: to all
which he replied, “ That, being engaged by every tie
“ of gratitude to his own sovereign, to whom he owed
“ his best services, he was under the necessity of
“ declining the honour proposed.” A few days after
he obtained an audience of the queen, when her