less impression than they had done formerly. By the eye passing immediately from the white paper to the picture, the colors derived uncommon richness and warmth; but for want of this foil they afterwards appeared comparatively cold."
REYNOLDS AND HAYDN'S PORTRAIT.
When Haydn, the eminent composer, was in
England, one of the princes commissioned Reynolds
to paint his portrait. Haydn sat twice, but he soon
grew tired, and Reynolds finding he could make
nothing out of his "stupid countenance," communicated
the circumstance to his royal highness, who
contrived the following stratagem to rouse him. He
sent to the painter's house a beautiful German girl,
in the service of the queen. Haydn took his seat,
for the third time, and as soon as the conversation
began to flag, a curtain rose, and the fair German
addressed him in his native language with a most elegant
compliment. Haydn, delighted, overwhelmed
the enchantress with questions; and Reynolds, rapidly
transferring to the canvass his features thus lit up,
produced an admirable likeness.
RUBENS' LAST SUPPER.
Sir Joshua Reynolds relates the following anecdote,
in his "Journey to Flanders and Holland."
He stopped at Mechlin to see the celebrated altar-*piece
by Rubens in the cathedral, representing the
