33. Sr. Anthony Wandyck.
Was the excellent disciple of that Excellent Mr. Rubens. He received his birth at Antwerp 22. March 1593. Had his first Instruction under Henry Van Balen, an Italian Painter; but having seen the admirable Works of Rubens, he left all his De∣signs to follow this great Master, as one whom he judged most worthy of his imitation; Rubens charmed with his Wit, con∣cealed nothing from him that was necessary to polish him and make him a skilful Artist, being far from envying or seeking to nip his budding Glory. Whilst he lived with Rubens he painted a great number of Faces, among the rest, that of Rubens his wife, which is esteemed one of the best in the Low Countries. He made him 2 Pieces, one admirably representing the taking of our Saviour in the Garden; the other, the Crowning with Thorns. Having done these for his Master, he travelled into Italy to see Titians Works. At his return he made that Incomparable piece for the Monastery of Augustines at Antwerp, of St. Augustine looking stedfastly up into Heaven, which appears open and all shining with light: The Prince of Orange hearing his fame, sent for him to draw his own Picture, his Princesses and his Childrens, which he did to the great satisfaction of that Prince and all that were Curious. No sooner did these rare Pieces ap∣pear in publick but the most considerable persons in Holland were ambitious to be drawn by the hand of this curious Artist, and the Nobility of England and France sent on purpose for him that they might participate of the same happiness, and so numerous were they that Van dyck not being able with his ut∣most Industry to content them all, drew only those he had most particular esteem for, or such as gratified him most considera∣bly. Being arrived in England he was presented to King Charles the 1st, by Sir Kenelm Dighy: The King not only Knighted him, but as a peculiar M•••••• of his esteem, presented him with a Massy Gold Chain with his Picture set with Dia∣monds, and settled a considerable Pension upon him.
He was a lover of all those of his Countrey, who excelled in any Art, most of whose Pictures he drew with his own hand, and which have been graven from thence by the best Gravers of that time, such as Bolfwaert, Vosterman, Pontius, &c. Some he did himself in Etching. He married one of the fairest and noblest Ladyes of the English Court, Daughter of the Lord Ruthen Earl of Gowry, whose Father being accused of a Conspira∣cy against King James the 1st, his Estate was confiscated, so that he had no great matter of Portion with his Wife, but her Beauty and Nobility. He died the same year that his Mr. Rubens did, and was buried in St. Pauls Church, London.