DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.62819#0042
xxxiv
LIFE OF RUBENS.
through Holland, with an intention of visiting in his
route every artist of eminence. His first stay was at
Gouda, where he called upon a painter, named Jacob
Roger Block, eminent in architectural subjects, of whom
he bought several pictures; at this place he had the
pleasure of meeting Sandrart, an artist of considerable
talents, with whom he had been on intimate terms
at Rome: the encounter was mutually agreeable, and
ended in a proposition from Sandrart to accompany him
in his intended tour, an offer which was gladly ac-
cepted, as his amiable manners and learned conver-
sation rendered him a valuable companion. Their
first visit at Utrecht was to Cornelius Poelemburg*,
with whom they had become acquainted in Italy, when
he was in the school of Elsheimer: his productions
in art, representing tasteful landscapes, embellished with
the ruins of temples and groups of nymphs and other
figures, were greatly admired by Rubens, who became
the purchaser of several. They spent the follow-
ing day with Gerard Honthorst, whose works had
often attracted the admiration of Rubens by their
singularly-powerful effect. Gerard was at the time
engaged in putting the last touches to a picture, the sub-
ject of which was—Diogenes at mid-day, with a lantern
in his hand, looking for an honest man : of this Rubens
also became the purchaser. In this manner, during a
fortnight, were the two friends engaged visiting every
* Poelemburg has commemorated this event, by painting the
portraits of himself in conversation with his friend Rubens; they
are represented standing together in the fore-ground of a landscape.
The latter is seen in a profile view, without his hat, habited in a
scarlet mantle ; the wise of the former is seated on a bank before
them. Size of the picture IS in. by 26 in.—P.
LIFE OF RUBENS.
through Holland, with an intention of visiting in his
route every artist of eminence. His first stay was at
Gouda, where he called upon a painter, named Jacob
Roger Block, eminent in architectural subjects, of whom
he bought several pictures; at this place he had the
pleasure of meeting Sandrart, an artist of considerable
talents, with whom he had been on intimate terms
at Rome: the encounter was mutually agreeable, and
ended in a proposition from Sandrart to accompany him
in his intended tour, an offer which was gladly ac-
cepted, as his amiable manners and learned conver-
sation rendered him a valuable companion. Their
first visit at Utrecht was to Cornelius Poelemburg*,
with whom they had become acquainted in Italy, when
he was in the school of Elsheimer: his productions
in art, representing tasteful landscapes, embellished with
the ruins of temples and groups of nymphs and other
figures, were greatly admired by Rubens, who became
the purchaser of several. They spent the follow-
ing day with Gerard Honthorst, whose works had
often attracted the admiration of Rubens by their
singularly-powerful effect. Gerard was at the time
engaged in putting the last touches to a picture, the sub-
ject of which was—Diogenes at mid-day, with a lantern
in his hand, looking for an honest man : of this Rubens
also became the purchaser. In this manner, during a
fortnight, were the two friends engaged visiting every
* Poelemburg has commemorated this event, by painting the
portraits of himself in conversation with his friend Rubens; they
are represented standing together in the fore-ground of a landscape.
The latter is seen in a profile view, without his hat, habited in a
scarlet mantle ; the wise of the former is seated on a bank before
them. Size of the picture IS in. by 26 in.—P.