30. Peter Paul Rubens.
This famous and renowned person, who was the Ornament and Flower of Painters, not only in the Low-Countries, but in all Europe, was born the 28. June 1577 at Antwerp, of a con∣siderable family, upon the feast of St. Peter and St. Paul, whence he had his name. His first Master was Adam Van Noort, one of so ill a temper, that Rubens was forced to leave him, and betake himself to Octavio Venus, by whose good Instructi∣ons having attained perfection in his Art; he traviled at 23 years of age to Italy, where he lived 7 years in the service of the Duke of Mantua, by whom he was employed in several Embassies, amongst others to Rome, to copy some Pieces of the most famous Masters before him, wherein he so exactly imi∣tated the Originals, that his Copies were exceedingly admired. At Rome he made a great Piece for the Church of Notredame, re∣presenting Pope Gregory, and some other Saints, but that prov∣ing too little for the place it was designed for, he drew ano∣ther and sent the former to the Abby of St. Michael at Antwerp, whither he at length returned, and where he setled, and built a stately House, adorning it with abundance of Statues brought from Italy, insomuch that it was esteemed the best Fabrick of that opulent City, both in regard of the curiousness of its Struc∣ture, and the Riches of its inside; amongst which was a Cabinet furnished with such variety of antient Medals, Agates and other choice Rarities, that it might vie with any of the most renowned Princes of Europe. In fine, so great were his ac∣complishments, not only in Painting, but in other Sciences, that the Kings of Spaine, France, and England, in testimony of his Merits, conferred on him their several Orders of Knighthood: His most celebrated Pieces are, That of the Doctors treating of matters of Faith, in the Dominican Church at Antwerp. The Ele∣vation of the Cross, in another Church there. The taking down our Saviour from the Cross, in the Great Church. Several rare Pieces in the Magnificent Church of the Jesuites, The two principal whereof are at the great Altar; One representing St. Ig∣natius exorcising a Demoniack, the other St. Xavier preaching to the Indians: At the great Altar of the Church of the Corde∣liers, is an admirable piece of his, Christ crucified between the two Thieves, as also the Death of St. Francis. His Battle of the Amazons, is an incomparable Piece, wherein the agility and manner of fighting among the antients, is represented so arti∣ficially, as ravishes the beholders. But that which added much to his Fame, was his beautiful embellishments to the Palace of Luxemburgh, in St. Germains at Paris, built by Mary de Medicis, Queen of France, on the right hand as one enters the Gallery, is contained the History of that Queens Life, represented in 21 large Pieces. In which, Art seems to have done its utmost, to surpass Nature; the vastness of its Design being matter of astonishment to the most skilful in the Art of Painting, and the delicacy of its stokes, with that Harmony and Majesty that reigns over the whole, making them despair of ever attaining so great perfecti∣on; Insomuch, that this famous Work has furnished matter for the most elegant Pens of France to celebrate. He was in England