- vid, I have called to have my portrait taken by the
illustrious painter of Leonidas at Thermopylæ." David, eyeing fiercely the man who had humbled his country, and dethroned her Emperor, replied, "Sir, I cannot paint the English."
DAVID AND THE CARDINAL CAPRARA.
David introduced the Cardinal Caprara, as the
Pope's legate, into the picture of the Coronation of
Napoleon, without his wig. The likeness was exact,
and the Cardinal remonstrated with David on
the omission, desiring him to supply it. The painter
replied that he never had, and never would paint
a wig. The Cardinal then applied to the Minister
of Foreign Affairs, and represented that as no pope
had hitherto worn a wig, it might seem as if he
(Caprara) had purposely left his own off, to show
his pretensions to the tiara. David however stood
firm as a rock, even before Talleyrand, and said,
"his Eminence may think himself lucky that nothing
but his wig has been taken off."
DAVID AT BRUSSELS.
David, then advanced in years, severely felt his
exile at Brussels. He lived very retired, saw little
company, and seldom went abroad. It is related
that Talma, during a professional engagement at
Brussels, got up the tragedy of Leonidas, expressly
to gratify his old friend, and invited him to the theatre
to see the performance. David consented to go,
