EXTRACTS PROM FOREIGN JOURNALS. 169 



of oil colours— were already passed. Van Dyck was no more ; but the adopted 

 child of Bruges had achieved enough for his glory and that of his country, 

 by imparting to colours a durability wanting in the works of Athens and of 

 Rome. The centre of a catholic unity, enriched by the spoils of Rome, Italy 

 gathered to itself the pupils of Van Dyck. After receiving instructions from 

 this celebrated painter, Joseph Van Mander, a native of Bruges, travelled 

 to Italy. At Venice the friendship of Dominique fully compensated him for 

 the communication which he made to that artist of his master's discovery; 

 and at the invitation of his new acquaintance the young painter directed his 

 steps to Florence, there to behold the master-pieces collected by the Medici 

 in their splendid capital. Here Van Mander sent to ask Andre del Castagno, 

 a distinguished artist of Florence, if it would be agreeable to him to receive a 

 foreign painter, who had a message for him from his friend Dominique of 

 Venice. Andre' was himself the bearer of the reply — " Sir," said he, " the 

 friends of Dominique are my friends, and, moreover, are not all artists 

 brothers ?" Van Mander accepted the invitation of the Florentine to take up 

 his abode with him, and the two friends soon arrived at the house of the latter. 

 Van Mander on seeing the works of Andre, bestowed on them the warmest 

 praise ; but when the Florentine had induced the young Fleming to exhibit 

 his own pictures, he could not restrain his admiration of a Madeline repentante^ 

 into which Van Mander had thrown all the poesy of a religious soul, and the 

 brilliant colouring so characteristic of the Flemish painters. 



" I do not deserve these praises," said Van Mander. *' This transparent 

 varnish is not my invention. Its discovery is due to my master. Van Dyck. 

 But what would you say were you to see his Agneau de V Apocalypse ?" 



"I know not which to admire the most, your talent or your modesty." 



"If you please," rejoined Van Mander, " I will impart to you my il- 

 lustrious master's secret." 



" How could I ever repay so great a favour ?" 



"Did you not say that all artists were brothers ?" 



And for some time the friends worked together in the studio of Andre, who 

 had in a short time no reason to envy Van Mander. The Florentine had, 

 however, no pleasure in contemplating that this discovery would place him 

 amongst the best painters of Florence : at times his brow clouded, his eyes 

 became savage, he muttered angrily ; and when the good Van Mander 

 inquired the cause of this alteration, Andrd replied that he had recently been 

 disappointed in love. One night Andre' seemed more than ever occupied with 

 his gloomy thoughts ; and as his companion was unable to please him he went 

 out to walk in the spacious streets and squares of Florence. The moon cast a 

 gigantic shadow on the church of the Annunziata, and Van Mander had scarce 

 reached its beautiful door-way, when he felt the icy thrust of a dagger in his 

 breast. He tore the weapon from the wound, and perceived a man in a cloak 

 hurrying ofFin the shade. Van Mander fell upon the earth. Two men who 

 were passing that way, found him weltering in his blood, and almost ex- 

 hausted. 



" Already a victim," observed one ; " the bullies of Venice have taken up 

 their abode at Florence." 



*'Only been here eight days," said the other, when he had heard the 

 painter's story, " and thus early a dagger thrust. By the Madona, this is 

 singular." 



VOL. VI. — NO. XIX. Y 



