EARLY DRAWINGS 175 
to end his career as an exile from France, and died in 
Brussels in 1825, 
Audubon has said but little of this Paris experience, 
but he remarked: “At the age of seventeen when I re- 
turned from France, whither I had gone to receive the 
rudiments of my education, my drawings had assumed 
a form. David had guided my hand in tracing objects 
of large size.” * An interesting sidelight is thrown upon 
this incident by the fact that, not many years before, 
David had been warmly welcomed in the city of Nantes, 
when it is not unlikely that the naturalist’s father was 
one of the throng of citizens who made his acquaintance. 
The occasion to which I refer was so noteworthy in the 
annals of Audubon’s paternal city as to make a digres- 
sion at this point of our narrative inevitable. In March, 
1790, Daniel de Kervegan, a wealthy merchant who was 
then serving his second term as mayor, had aroused so 
much enthusiasm by his public spirit and sterling char- 
acter that the citizens had voted the sum of 800 livres, 
or about $60, for his portrait, to be executed in oils 
and placed in one of their public buildings. The com- 
mission was offered to David, who accepted it, and with 
such enthusiasm did he set to work, that upon reaching 
Nantes he asked the privilege of paying his respects 
to the Municipal Assembly, which was in session. Upon 
being admitted to the Chamber, on the 24th of March, 
he expressed these sentiments: 
If ever my art has brought me any gratification, or any 
success, never before have I had better excuse for boastful- 
ness. 
I have made it a duty to respond to the worthy invitations, 
inspired by patriotism and gratitude, that hallow this most 
timely and most astounding revolution. 
® Ornithological Biography (Bibl. No. 2), vol. i, p. viii. 
