Sir Anthony, a celebrated painter, was born at Antwerp in the year 1599. After giving early proofs of his genius, he became the disciple of the illustrious Rubens. In the church of the Augustines at Antwerp, at the high altar, is a celebrated picture of Rubens, representing, in one part, the Virgin Mary sitting with the child Jesus in her lap, and in another part several saints, male and female, standing. The breast of one of these, St. Sebastian, is said to have been painted by Vandyck when he was only a disciple of Rubens. This great master being engaged one day abroad, his disciples went into his painting-room, where, after having been some time employed in admiring his works, they began to romp in such a manner, that the breast of St. Sebastian, which was not yet dry, was brushed away by a hat thrown at random. This accident put an end to their play: they were very anxious to restore it, fearing that if Rubens discovered it they should all be discarded. At length it was agreed that Anthony should undertake to mend the saint's breast. In short, taking his master's pallet and brushes, he succeeded so well that his companions imagined Rubens would overlook it. They were mistaken; for Rubens at his return knew immediately that some one had touched his performance: calling his disciples, he asked them why any one had dared to meddle with his painting. They were some time doubtful whether they should confess or deny the fact. Threats at length prevailed; they owned that Vandyck had thrown his hat upon it. Upon this, closeting Vandyck, instead of chiding him, he told him, that "it was proper and even necessary for him to travel into Italy, the only school that produced excellent painters." By this advice, and with the assistance of his master, he set out for Italy, about the year 1621, being then about twenty-one or twenty-two years of age. Having staid a short time at Rome, he removed to Venice, where he attained the beautiful colouring of Titian, Paul Veronese, and the Venetian school.
After a few years he returned to Flanders, with so noble, so easy, and natural a manner of painting, that Titian himself was hardly his superior; and no other master could equal him in portraits. Soon after his return, he accidentally met with D. Teniers, who accosted him with great politeness, and asked him whether he had much business since he came from Rome? "What business, think you, can I have had time to do?" replied Vandyck: "I am only just arrived here. Would you believe, that I offered to draw that fat brewer's picture who just passed by us for two pistoles, and that the looby laughed in my face, saying it was too dear? I assure you, that if the cards do not turn up better, I shall make no long stay at Brussels." Soon after this, he painted those two famous pictures, the Nativity and a dying Christ; the first in the parish church, the second in that of the Capuchins, at Termond.
Vandyck, finding he could not make a fortune in his own country, adopted the resolution of visiting England. Accordingly he borrowed some guineas of Teniers, and set out, furnished with letters of recommendation. His superior genius soon brought him into great reputation; and above all, he excelled in portraits, which he drew with an
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1 See Return to an order of the House of Commons, 24th February 1840. inconceivable facility, and for which he charged a very high price, according to the instructions which had been given him on that head. It is affirmed, that for some of them he received 400 guineas a-piece. He soon found himself loaded with honours and riches; and as he had a noble and generous heart, he lived suitably to his fortune.
He married Maria Ruthven, grand-daughter of the first earl of Gowrie; and though she had but little fortune, maintained him in a style equal to her birth. He generally kept a magnificent equipage, and a numerous retinue. He died in Bickfriars on the 9th of December 1641, at the early age of forty-two, and was buried in St. Paul's near the tomb of Lord Gurney. He left a daughter, married to Mr. Stepney, the grandfather of George Stepey the poet. Lady Violette was afterwards married to Richard the son of Sir John Pryse of Newton-Averbacham, but by her second husband she had no issue.
ANNE, a thin slip of bunting hung to the mast-head, or some other conspicuous place in the ship, to show the direction of the wind. It is commonly sewed upon a wooden frame called the stock, which contains two holes for slipping over the thimble, upon which it turns about as the wind changes.
ANNES, an arrondissement in the department of Morbihan in France, extending over 638 square miles, comprising eleven cantons, divided into seven communes, containing a population of 125,898 in 1836. The capital of the city of the same name, which is connected with the port of Morbihan by a canal about two and a half miles in length. It is well fortified, is the seat of a bishop, has a cathedral and other three churches, 1850 houses, and 11,623 inhabitants in 1836. The chief trade is in corn, butter, and honey; and a fishery for anchovies affords occupation to many of the people.
Lat. 47° 39' 14". Long. 2° 52' 16". W.
AR, a department of the south-east of France, formed out of the eastern part of ancient Provence. It extends in north latitude from 43° 2' to 44° 0', and in east longitude from 5° 29' to 6° 59' and comprehends 2854 square miles. It is bounded on the north by the department of the Lower Alpes, on the north-east by Piedmont, on the south-east by the Mediterranean sea, and on the west by the mouths of the Rhone. It is divided into four arrondissements, which are subdivided into thirty-five cantons, and those into 210 communes.
The population in 1836 amounted to 323,404 persons, all of whom adhere to the Romish communion, or, if there are any protestants, they are in no place so numerous as to form a congregation for public worship. The language of the common people is the Provençal, but in the cities and towns the French is gradually driving out the ancient tongue. The face of the country presents mountains, rocks, hills, valleys, and small plains, with some beautiful and even romantic prospects. The north and north-east parts are the most mountainous, as they contain a portion of the maritime Alps, proceeding out of Piedmont, which, for the most part, are bare of trees, and, especially on their southern side, exhibit naked perpendicular precipices. These are calcareous, but a range extends from Hieres to Frejus, which are of granite, and more thick of trees, among which are cork, chestnut, cestus, myrtle, and firs. In the western part is the remarkable mountain Saint Beaume, with a labyrinth in the calcareous substance of it, that extends from the western boundary of the department, the mouths of the Rhone, to Ollioules, and is well known by the name of les Gorges d'Ollioules. In general the soil is far from fertile, and is more indebted to the labour of the inhabitants than its quality for its powers of production. It is better adapted for fruits, such as grapes and olives, than for wheat, rye, or other grain.
The department is watered by numerous mountain streams. The river which gives name to the department, rising in the mountain Camelione in Piedmont, receives the water of the Esteron, forms many small islands, and, after a course of sixty miles, enters the Mediterranean; but it is not navigable in any part. Along the sea-shore are numerous pools and morasses, some of which communicate with the sea.
The climate is mild, the great heats of summer being tempered by the breezes from the sea and the mountains. Rain is unusual, except when the wind drives the clouds from the sea. With the exception of about twenty days, there is a continual spring; and even in those few days the thermometer seldom sinks to the freezing point. In January the fields are clothed with fresh green, and in February the trees put forth their blossoms.
Agriculture is in a neglected state, so that the corn produced does not supply half the consumption, and in summer the grass is so burnt up, that the cattle must be driven to the mountains for pasture. Neither cows, sheep, nor horses are abundant; but many swine are bred and fattened. The chief beasts of burden are asses and mules.
The chief productions are wine, oil, silk, and the better kinds of fruit, oranges, citrons, and lemons, some dried fruits, a few dates, and abundance of chestnuts and other kinds of nuts. Honey and wax are collected in considerable quantities. There are no minerals raised, except about 600 tons of fossil coal. On the sea-shore a sufficiency of salt is produced by the natural heat of the sun. The fishery on the coast yields abundance of tunny, anchovies, sardines, and mackerel, with a small but delicate small fish called the monnat. The manufactures are considerable, and merely for home consumption. The department elects three deputies for the legislative chamber.