MARRIAGE OF SAINT CATHERINE. We have previously noticed saint Catherin, at no 25, and said that nothing certain was known of her life or her death. However, without regarding the lightness with which most of the writers of legends have related extraordinary facts, a great number of artists have represented the marriage of saint Catherine, the relation of which is given by Peter de Natalibus, bishop of Jasolo. This pious writer says that, some time previous to the baptism of Catherine, she saw, in a mysterious vision, the Virgin entreating the infant Jesus to admit young Catherine among his faithful servants. The divine child rejected such a proposal with horror, alleging that she was a pagan and must be regenerated by the water of baptism. As soon as she awoke, Catherine determined to become a christian, and after she was baptised, she saw, in a second vision, the infant Jesus, who admitted her into his presence, not as a servant, but as a faithful wife; and upon awaking, she perceived upon her finger a mysterious ring. The presence of saint Sebastian in this picture can only be attributed to the desire of the person who ordered it, of whom apparently this saint was the patron. Cardinal Barberini, who was the owner of this picture, gave it to cardinal Mazarin; at the death of that minister it was added to the king's collection, and was engraved during the ministry of Colbert, by Etienne Picart. Height, 4 feet; breadth, 4 feet. ÉCOLE FRANÇAISE. **** N. POUSSIN. GAL LIECHTENSTEIN. JEUX D'ENFANS. Deux enfans paraissent lutter ensemble pour une pomme que tient l'un d'eux; un autre s'amuse avec un papillon; un quatrième cherche à attraper un de ces charmans insectes, dont la vue et la possession réjouissent tous les enfans; enfin un cinquième paraît arranger quelques fruits dans une corbeille. On doit considérer cette composition comme une étude de Poussin, plutôt que comme un tableau, car rien ne caractérise le sujet qu'il aurait voulu représenter. Il existe deux peintures de cette jolie composition : l'une est en Angleterre, chez le comte Grosvenor; l'autre est à Vienne, dans la galerie du comte de Liechtenstein. Elle a été gravée par E. Smith en 1814. Haut., 1 pied 9 pouces ; larg., 1 pied 4 pouces. CHILDREN AT PLAY. Two children are struggling for an apple which one of them holds; another plays with a butterfly; a fourth tries to catch one of those beautiful insects, the sight and possession of which so much delight children; a fifth is disposing flowers in a basket. This composition ought to be regarded rather as an essay by Poussin, than as a picture, for nothing characterises the subject he would represent. There are two paintings of this pretty work; one in England, at the Earl of Grosvenor's; the other at Vienna in the prince of Liechtenstein's gallery. It has been engraved by E. Smith in 1814. Height, I foot 10 inches; breadth, 1 foot 5 inches. I |