younger, 1615, Conversations, and Apparitions to St. Anthony; Anthony
Schoonjans, 1655, History and Portraits; Cornelius Schut, 1600, History;
Peter Snayers, 1593, History, Battles, &c.; Francis Snyders, 1579,
Animals, Fruit, Still Life, and Landscapes; David Teniers, 1582,
Conversations; Sir Anthony Van Dyke, 1599, History and Portraits; Paul
Vansomer, 1576, Portraits; Lucas Vanuden, 1595, Landscapes; Adrian Van
Utrecht, 1599, Birds, Fruit, Flowers, and Dead Game; Gasper Peter
Verbruggen, 1668, Flowers; Simon Verelst, 1664, Fruit, Flowers, and
Portraits; Verendael, 1659, Fruit and Flowers; Tobias Verhaecht, 1566,
Landscapes and Architecture; Martin de Vos, 1520, History, Landscape,
and Portrait; Simon De Vos, 1603, History, Portraits, and Hunting; Lucas
De Waal, 1591, Battles and Landscapes; Adam Willaerts, 1577, Storms,
Calms, and Sea Ports; John Wildens, 1584, Landscapes and Figures.

Peter Paul Rubens was of a distinguished family at _Antwerp_; but
his father being (says Pilkington) under the necessity of quitting his
country, to avoid the calamities attendant on a civil war, retired for
security to Cologne; and during his residence in that city Rubens was
born, in 1577. The day of his nativity was the Feast of St. Peter and
St. Paul; and thence he received at the baptismal font the names of
these apostles.

Having been absent from his native country eight years, he was summoned
home by the repeated illness of his mother; but, though he hastened with
all speed, he did not reach Antwerp in time to afford his beloved parent
the consolations of his presence and affections. The loss of her
affected him deeply; and he intended, when he had arranged his private
affairs, to go and reside in Italy; but the Archduke Albert and the
Infanta Isabella exerted their interest to retain him in Flanders, and
in their service. He consequently established himself at Antwerp, where