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)

xlvi

LIFE OF RUBENS.

the commander-in-chief. Immediately after, Prince
Ferdinand assumed the reins of government at Brus-
sels, and Rubens appeared at his court.
The mayor of the city of Antwerp, being informed
that it was the intention of the prince to visit that city
in the ensuing May, resolved, with the consent of the
authorities, to grace his entrance with dignity and
splendour by the erection of eleven triumphal arches,
placed at the entrances of the principal streets. In
order to accomplish this intention in a suitable manner,
the senate requested Rubens to make the necessary
plans, and compose the decorations, setting forth, in a
series of allegorical pictures, the virtues and heroic
actions of their new governor. The numerous sketches
and studies made by the artist for this work, and the
completion of the immense pictures under his direction
(in many instances terminated by his own hand) prove
his prodigious powers of invention and his indefatigable
application.
Prince Ferdinand, accompanied by a numerous
suite, quitted Brussels early in May, and proceeding
by the canal in a splendid barge, arrived the same
evening at the suburbs of Antwerp. The following
morning a splendid cavalcade, composed of Spanish
nobles, ministers of state, the mayor and senate, with
the various companies and religious orders of the city,
accompanied the prince in procession through all the
triumphal arches, and, in the absence of Rubens, who
was then unfortunately confined by the gout, the alle-
gories were explained to the prince by the burgomaster,
Chevalier Robert Tucher. Rubens was, however,
consoled for the disappointment he suffered, in conse-