DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.62819#0043
LIFE OF RUBENS.
XXXV
artist of repute at Amsterdam and other cities, con-
versing with them in the most friendly manner, and
never quitting their painting-rooms without purchasing
some of their works. Whether his visit to Holland had
any object of a political nature, as Michel insinuates, is
not easy at this time to determine; although it is pos-
sible that his sagacity as a politician might have com-
bined the two motives. The candour, generosity, and
noble-mindedness of Rubens were manifest on all occa-
sions towards his brother artists; an instance of this,
in addition to those already stated, occurred on his
return to Antwerp. Van Dyck, who had recently
returned from Italy, complained that the productions of
his pencil did not furnish him enough for his mainte-
nance : this declaration most sensibly affected Rubens,
who went the next day and bought every picture he
had finished. This and similar acts of generosity did
not, however, secure him from the jealousy and male-
volence of Cornelius Schut, who took every opportunity
to decry his works. Rubens, though informed of this, was
determined, by an act of kindness, to make Schut his
friend : he called upon him, and, in a familiar conversa-
tion, passed some handsome compliments upon his pic-
tures, at the same time inquiring if he were disposed to
sell them, to which Schut readily consented. Rubens
liberally took them at the price demanded ; and, before
he left Schut, added, that if at any time he was disen-
gaged, he would be glad of his assistance. These acts
of urbanity had but little influence upon the morose
and envious mind of Schut.
The correspondence between Rubens and the Duke of
Buckingham, being occasionally of a political nature, was
XXXV
artist of repute at Amsterdam and other cities, con-
versing with them in the most friendly manner, and
never quitting their painting-rooms without purchasing
some of their works. Whether his visit to Holland had
any object of a political nature, as Michel insinuates, is
not easy at this time to determine; although it is pos-
sible that his sagacity as a politician might have com-
bined the two motives. The candour, generosity, and
noble-mindedness of Rubens were manifest on all occa-
sions towards his brother artists; an instance of this,
in addition to those already stated, occurred on his
return to Antwerp. Van Dyck, who had recently
returned from Italy, complained that the productions of
his pencil did not furnish him enough for his mainte-
nance : this declaration most sensibly affected Rubens,
who went the next day and bought every picture he
had finished. This and similar acts of generosity did
not, however, secure him from the jealousy and male-
volence of Cornelius Schut, who took every opportunity
to decry his works. Rubens, though informed of this, was
determined, by an act of kindness, to make Schut his
friend : he called upon him, and, in a familiar conversa-
tion, passed some handsome compliments upon his pic-
tures, at the same time inquiring if he were disposed to
sell them, to which Schut readily consented. Rubens
liberally took them at the price demanded ; and, before
he left Schut, added, that if at any time he was disen-
gaged, he would be glad of his assistance. These acts
of urbanity had but little influence upon the morose
and envious mind of Schut.
The correspondence between Rubens and the Duke of
Buckingham, being occasionally of a political nature, was