DOI chapter:
The Life of Anthony Van Dyck
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.62914#0026
LIFE OF VAN DYCK.
him to visit Italy. He promoted this desirable object
in the kindest manner, by making him several con-
siderable presents, and furnishing him with letters of
introduction. In return for these favours, the scholar
testified his gratitude by the gift of two pictures, painted
by his own hand: “ Christ betrayed in the Garden,”
and an “ Ecce Homo*.” Van Dyck commenced his
journey to Italy in 1620. He had not, however, pro-
ceeded farther than Brussels before a love affair, in the
village of Sevelthem, a few miles distant from that city,
delayed his progress; and such was the ardour of his
attachment to his innamorata, that he was induced, at
her request, to paint two pictures, one representing the
“ Holy Family,” in which he introduced the portraits
of himself and his mistress ; and the other, “ St. Martin
dividing his cloakf.” It is uncertain how long his
passion might have detained him at this place, but for
the friendly conduct of Rubens, who went there ex-
pressly,—roused him to a due sense of his situation, and
urged his instant departure. On his arrival at Venice,
the charms of the glorious works of Titian, Veronese,
and other distinguished masters of this school, made a
deep impression upon his mind, and excited in him the
warmest enthusiasm ; under the influence of which he
persevered so ardently in his studies, that he appears
to have instantly quitted much of his Flemish manner,
and to have assumed a style more elevated and refined,
united to colouring as rich and mellow as the works he
saw around him ; such are the pictures representing
* See pages 4 and 5.
j- See pages 12 and 42.
him to visit Italy. He promoted this desirable object
in the kindest manner, by making him several con-
siderable presents, and furnishing him with letters of
introduction. In return for these favours, the scholar
testified his gratitude by the gift of two pictures, painted
by his own hand: “ Christ betrayed in the Garden,”
and an “ Ecce Homo*.” Van Dyck commenced his
journey to Italy in 1620. He had not, however, pro-
ceeded farther than Brussels before a love affair, in the
village of Sevelthem, a few miles distant from that city,
delayed his progress; and such was the ardour of his
attachment to his innamorata, that he was induced, at
her request, to paint two pictures, one representing the
“ Holy Family,” in which he introduced the portraits
of himself and his mistress ; and the other, “ St. Martin
dividing his cloakf.” It is uncertain how long his
passion might have detained him at this place, but for
the friendly conduct of Rubens, who went there ex-
pressly,—roused him to a due sense of his situation, and
urged his instant departure. On his arrival at Venice,
the charms of the glorious works of Titian, Veronese,
and other distinguished masters of this school, made a
deep impression upon his mind, and excited in him the
warmest enthusiasm ; under the influence of which he
persevered so ardently in his studies, that he appears
to have instantly quitted much of his Flemish manner,
and to have assumed a style more elevated and refined,
united to colouring as rich and mellow as the works he
saw around him ; such are the pictures representing
* See pages 4 and 5.
j- See pages 12 and 42.