xvi The L I F E of M. D U F R E S N O Y. 



years in the fchool of that painter, and of Simon Voiiet, he 

 thought proper to take a journey into Italy, where he arrived 

 in the end of 1633, or the beginning of 1634. 



.As he had, during his ftudiea, applied himfelf very much 

 to that of geometry, he began, upon his coming to Rome, 

 to paint landfkips, buildings, andantient ruins. But, for the 

 firft two years of his refidence in that city, he had the utmoft 

 difficulty to fupport himfelf, being abandoned by his parents, 

 who relented his having rejected their advice in the choice of 

 his profeffion -, and the little flock of money,, which he had 

 provided before he left France, proving fcarce fufficient for 

 the expences of his journey to Italy. Being destitute, there- 

 fore, of friends and acquaintance at Rome,, he was reduced to 

 fuch diilrefs, that his chief fubfiftence for the greateft part of 

 that time was bread and a fmall quantity of cheefe. But he 

 diverted the fenfe of his uneafy circumftances by an intenfe 

 and indefatigable application to painting, till the arrival of 

 the celebrated Peter Mignard, who had been the companion 

 of his ftudies under Voiiet, fet him more at eafe. They, 

 immediately engaged in. the ftriaeft friendship, living toge- 

 ther in the fame houfe, and being commonly-known at Rome 

 by the name of the Infeparabks. They were employed by 

 the Cardinal of Lyons in- copying all the beft pieces in the 

 Farnefe Palace. But their principal ftudy was the works of 

 Raphael and other great matters,, and the antiques ; and they 

 were contfant in their attendance every evening at the academy 

 in defigning after models, Mignard had fuperior talents in 

 practice; but Du Frefnoy was. a greater matter of the rules, 

 hittory, and theory of his profefiion.. They communicated 

 to each other their remarks and ientiments, Du rrefnoy 

 furnifhing his friend with noble and excellent ideas, and the 



latter 



