Nicolas Poussin, His Life and Work

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1899 edition. Excerpt: ...must have given satisfaction to M. de Chantelou, for the painter says, in his letter of August 29, 16502: The real importance of my portrait and the esteem in which you hold it, are out of all proportion. So is also the merit of the work as compared with the price you have paid. I find excess in all this. I promised myself that you would receive my little present with good-will, but did not expect anything more. It suffices that you should give this picture a place in your collection, without filling my purse with pistoles. This is a kind of tyranny which puts me under an obligation that I cannot discharge.1 The earlier portrait presents a half-length view of the artist. His eyes are turned in the direction of the spectator. The hair, parted in the middle, falls on the neck in thick locks. The body is enveloped in a mantle which is thrown over the right shoulder. In one hand he holds a drawing-pen, the other rests on a large book, bearing the title De Lvmine et Colere. On a tablet appear in Latin his name, age, profession, and the date. Two genii hold this tablet, and also the ends of a long festoon of laurel leaves. This portrait for M. Pointel, was copied by the painter for M. Cerisiers.2 Both the first painting and the replica have disappeared, but they are well-known through Jean Pesne's engraving. The portrait made for M. de Chantelou is the better likeness. This represents the artist standing in his atelier, his body turned three-quarters to the left, his face in nearly front view. He is wrapped in a mantle, and the right hand, on whose little finger is seen a seal ring, rests on a portfolio or roll tied together. His complexion is olive in tone, hair dark brown, moustache and tuft of beard are also brown. Behind a red screen in the...