RUBENS, SIR PETER PAUL, one of the most distin guished painters of modern times, was born at Cologne in 1577. His father, who had been a counsellor of state at Antwerp, observing the talents of his son at an early age, cultivated them with peculiar care; and by the diligence with which young Rubens availed himself of the opportunities of instruction within his reach, he made great progress in polite and classical learning. In his leisure hours he was always found occupied with drawing; but his father disregarding this indication of his peculiar talent, placed him as a page with the countess of Lalain, a situation by no means suitable to the turn of his mind, or the direction which his studies had now taken. When the death of his father released him from the obligations of filial duty, he obtained permission from his mother to devote himself to the profession of a painter.
With this view he became the disciple of Tobias Verhaecht, a landscape painter of some celebrity; but being more attached to history painting, he went to study that branch of the art under AdamV an Oort. Disgusted, however, with the vulgarity and virulence of that artist, he soon renounced his assistance, and became the disciple of Otho Venius, (Octavio Van Veen) whose temper and accomplishments were pecu liarly congenial with his own. Under this excellent master, Rubens was inspired with an ardent passion for his profession. He pursued it with an ardour which knew no bounds; and such was the proficiency which he had attained, that in his 23d year, Otho acknow ledged that he could give him no farther assistance, and advised him to seek for the higher accomplish ments of his profession in the study of the Italian mas ters. In obedience to this advice, Rubens set out for Italy, with introductory letters to the Duke of Mantua from the Archduke Albert, Governor of the Nether lands.
After having examined the productions of art at Ve nice, he went to Mantua, where he was warmly receiv ed by the Duke, who was so delighted with his gen eral manners and acquirements, that he appointed him one of the gentlemen of his chamber. There he had an opportunity of studying in the palace del 1', the fine productions of Julio Romano, in which he took great pleasure; and after remaining in the residence of the Duke for two years, he obtained permission to repair to Venice, for the purpose of studying the works of Titian, of Paul Veronese, and other productions which had particularly excited his notice during his short visit to that city. Imbued with an admiration
of the rich and brilliant pictures of the Venetian school, Rubens executed, on his return to Mantua, three mag nificent pictures for the church of the Jesuits, which have been considered as among his finest works. De sirous of having, from such an artist, copies of the most celebrated pictures at Rome, the Duke of Man tua offered him the means of pursuing his studies at that capital, and he executed the commission thus given to him with singular success.
Rubens had impressed his patron with such an opin ion of his ingenuity and talents, that in 1685 the duke sent him on an embassy to the court of Spain; and while he executed the political part of his mission with ability and success, he exercised his professional talents on a picture of the king of Spain, by whom he was honoured with the most marked attention.
After returning to Mantua, he paid a second visit to Rome, where he painted three excellent pictures for the palace of Santa Maria, in Vahicella. At Genoa, to which he next repaired, he received much employ ment. Among the pictures which he executed were two for the church of the Jesuits, N iz. the Crucifixion, and Ignatius working a miracle.
Having received accounts of the illness of-his mo ther, he performed a rapid journey to Holland; but he was not able to reach Antwerp to soothe the last mo ments of his parent. His spirits were much affected with her loss; but as soon as he had arranged his fa mily concerns, and was about to set off for Italy, his earliest patron, the Archduke Albert, and the Infanta Isabella, induced him to remain at Antwerp. Here he married his first wife Elizabeth Brants, and erected a magnificent house, with a saloon in imitation of the Rotunda at Rome, which he adorned with a choice collection of pictures, ancient statues, busts, and vases. Thus elegantly established in his native land, he exe cuted many of those beautiful productions which have immortalized his name; hut the death of his wife, after he had enjoyed her society only two years, afflicted him deeply, and forced him to seek for consolation in a journey to Holland.