One of the few female painters represented in the Gallery. Rachel Ruysch was the daughter of a professor of anatomy, and began to study art at an early age. She married Julian Pool, a portrait-painter, and had a large family. She continued the practice of her art until she reached an advanced age, always signing her pictures with her maiden name. Notwithstanding her industry, the number of her pictures is somewhat small, and it was jokingly said in her time that "she produced more children than pictures." The labour she devoted to her work was astonishing; two pictures alone are said to have occupied her for seven years; and these she bestowed on one of her daughters as a marriage portion. She was admirable in her manner of grouping as well as in pencilling; each flower is relieved by its neighbour, and all are kept in perfect harmony. She was fond of introducing among her flowers the insects peculiar to them (notice the butterfly in 1446); and these she depicted with microscopic accuracy. "Had her colouring been less cold, she would certainly have equalled her illustrious rival, Van Huysum" (Bryan's Dictionary of Painters, and Havard's Dutch School, p. 268).
1447. A HUNTING PARTY.
Adam Frans van der Meulen (Flemish: 1632-1694).
This painter, a native of Brussels, had a great facility in battlepieces. Some of these found their way to France, and attracted the notice of the painter Le Brun. On his recommendation Van der Meulen was invited to the French Court, and was at first employed on designs for the Gobelins tapestries. Afterwards he accompanied Louis XIV. on his campaigns, and, brush in hand, was present at all the principal sieges and battles of that monarch. These he afterwards painted for the King; he also depicted many hunting scenes and cavalcades. His works are to be seen at the Louvre and Versailles.
The present picture (signed, and dated 1662) shows us some such scene in the life of the Court. The suite is bareheaded, and it is clearly some personage of importance—possibly Louis XIV. himself—who is seated at the window of the carriage. The background of open country with blue distance is very pleasantly rendered.
1448. A VILLAGE GREEN IN FRANCE.
François S. Bonvin (French: 1817-1888).
A painter of still life and interiors as well as of landscape; for thirty years a constant exhibitor at the Salon; given the Order of the Legion of Honour in 1870.
Signed, and dated 1869, at Verberie—a pleasantly-situated spot in the department of the Oise, eleven miles north-east of Senlis.