that when he had reached his twenty-third year, Venius frankly told him that he could be of no further service to him, and that nothing more remained for his improvement but a journey to Italy, which he recommended as the surest means of ripening his extraordinary talents to the greatest perfection.
RUBENS' VISIT TO ITALY.
Rubens having secured the favor and patronage
of the Archduke Albert, governor of the Netherlands,
for whom he executed several pictures, set
out for Italy, with letters from his patron, recommending
him in the most honorable manner to the
Duke of Mantua, that at his court he might have access
to his admirable collection of paintings and antique
statues. He was received with the most marked
distinction by the Duke, who took him into his service,
and appointed him one of the gentlemen of his
bed-chamber, an honor which was the more acceptable
to Rubens, as it gave him greater facility for
studying the great works of Giulio Romano in the
Palazzo del Te, which were the objects of his particular
admiration.
RUBENS' ENTHUSIASM.
Giulio Romano's masterly illustrations of the sublime
poetry of Homer excited Rubens' emulation in
the highest degree. One day, while he was engaged
in painting the history of Turnus and Æneas,
in order to warm his imagination with poetic rapture,
