RUBENS.
279
sheep, lying on it, and on the farther side stands the high
priest, in his sacerdotal robes, invoking the acceptance of the
offering; two venerable men are approaching the altar, one of
them, wearing a linen ephod over a yellow robe, carries a lamb
under his arm ; they are attended by three young Levites, two
of whom have wax lights in their hands, and the third is holding
a vessel to receive the blood of the victim ; close to the front
are two children with a pair of doves; in the opposite side are
other worshippers bringing their gifts to the altar, and beyond
them are four priests bearing the ark on their shoulders, accom-
panied by the shouting hosts of Israel.
2 ft. 3^in. by 2 st. 10 in.—P. Worth 500 gs.
Now in the collection of Earl Spencer, at Althorp.
This and similar sketches are the best proofs of the artist’s
genius, and of all his works these are the most esteemed by con-
noisseurs. It was evidently done for a design to be worked in
tapestry, as it is terminated at the sides by pillars supporting a cor-
nice, to which four angels are attaching the border of the tapestry,
a similar way to the Loeches pictures in the Grosvenor Gallery.
938. The Virgin, with the infant Saviour in her arms. The
composition represents the Virgin, seated, and dressed in a scarlet
robe, with a gray mantle and some white linen covering her
knees, on which the infant is reclining, naked, and extending its
arms to embrace its parent, who is looking down with maternal
affection on the babe; her left hand is placed under his right
foot, and her right hand sustains his back; St. Joseph, in a blue
dress, is at the side, looking over the Virgin’s shoulder at the
infant.
3 st. 8 in. by 2st. 8 in.—C.
Now in the collection of Earl Spencer, at Althorp.
939- The Judgment of Solomon. The king, seated on his
throne, with a sceptre in his right hand and his left extended,
appears to be watching the issue of his trying sentence; the
executioner stands on the left, holding the living infant by the
heel, and raising the sword to perform the king’s command ;
279
sheep, lying on it, and on the farther side stands the high
priest, in his sacerdotal robes, invoking the acceptance of the
offering; two venerable men are approaching the altar, one of
them, wearing a linen ephod over a yellow robe, carries a lamb
under his arm ; they are attended by three young Levites, two
of whom have wax lights in their hands, and the third is holding
a vessel to receive the blood of the victim ; close to the front
are two children with a pair of doves; in the opposite side are
other worshippers bringing their gifts to the altar, and beyond
them are four priests bearing the ark on their shoulders, accom-
panied by the shouting hosts of Israel.
2 ft. 3^in. by 2 st. 10 in.—P. Worth 500 gs.
Now in the collection of Earl Spencer, at Althorp.
This and similar sketches are the best proofs of the artist’s
genius, and of all his works these are the most esteemed by con-
noisseurs. It was evidently done for a design to be worked in
tapestry, as it is terminated at the sides by pillars supporting a cor-
nice, to which four angels are attaching the border of the tapestry,
a similar way to the Loeches pictures in the Grosvenor Gallery.
938. The Virgin, with the infant Saviour in her arms. The
composition represents the Virgin, seated, and dressed in a scarlet
robe, with a gray mantle and some white linen covering her
knees, on which the infant is reclining, naked, and extending its
arms to embrace its parent, who is looking down with maternal
affection on the babe; her left hand is placed under his right
foot, and her right hand sustains his back; St. Joseph, in a blue
dress, is at the side, looking over the Virgin’s shoulder at the
infant.
3 st. 8 in. by 2st. 8 in.—C.
Now in the collection of Earl Spencer, at Althorp.
939- The Judgment of Solomon. The king, seated on his
throne, with a sceptre in his right hand and his left extended,
appears to be watching the issue of his trying sentence; the
executioner stands on the left, holding the living infant by the
heel, and raising the sword to perform the king’s command ;