al purchaser sold it not long
afterwards to the Duc de Richelieu for one thousand crowns!

POUSSIN'S SUCCESS AT ROME.

A brighter day now dawned upon Poussin. What had happened to him, which
would have been regarded by most young artists as the greatest
misfortune and sunk them in despondency and ruin, proved of the greatest
advantage to him. The Cardinal Barberini having returned to Rome, gave
him some commissions, which he executed in such an admirable manner as
at once established his reputation among those of the greatest artists
of the age. The first work he executed for his patron was his celebrated
picture of the Death of Germanicus, which Lanzi pronounces one of his
finest productions. He next painted the Taking of Jerusalem by Titus.
These works gave the Cardinal so much satisfaction that he procured for
him the commission to paint a large picture of the Martyrdom of St.
Erasmus, for St. Peter's, now in the pontifical palace at Monte Cavallo.
These works procured him the friendship and patronage of the Cav. del
Pozzo, for whom he painted his first set of pictures, representing the
Seven Sacraments, now in the collection of the Duke of Rutland. He
afterwards painted another set of the same, with some variations, for M.
de Chantelou, formerly in the Orleans collection, now in that of the
Marquis of Stafford.

POUSSIN'S INVITATION TO PARIS.

In 1639, Poussin was invited to Paris by Louis XIII., who honored him on
this occasion with the following autograph letter, which was an
extraordinary and unusual homage to art:

"DEAR AND WELL BELOVED,

"Some of our especial servants having made a report to us of the
reputation which you have acquired, and the rank which you hold among
the best and most famous painters of Italy; and we being desirous, in
imitation of our predecessors, to contribute, as much as lies in us, to
the ornament and decoration of our royal houses, by fixing around us
those who excel in the arts, and whose attainments in them have
attracted notice in the places where those arts are most cherished, do
therefore write you this letter, to acquaint you that we have chosen and
appointed you to be one of our painters in ordinary, and that,
henceforward, we will employ you in that capacity. To this effect our
intention is, that on the receipt of this present, you shall dispose
yourself to come hither, where the services you perform shall meet with
as much consideration as do your mer