Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1850-11-14
Anecdotes Of HOlbein, the
Painter.

low ebb, he condescended to paint figures upon
the houses of the gentry of Basle, a, was the
custom in those times, and by this means earn.
cd few gilders, which enabled him to pay his
score for day or two at the tavern. On one
occasion he had bargained with merchant to
do some work Of this kind npon the wall, be-
tween the second and third story of his house.
The scafiold for Holbein to sit upon was pre-
pared, and he had hardly worked whole day,
when the drinking fit seized him, and quite
extinguished all relish for labor. He there
upon begged the merchant to advance him a
small part of the price of his work, in order, as
he said, to discharge debt which he owed
The merchant, aware of his unsteady habits,
was not very fond Of complying, but as he
could not, with good grace, refuse, he gave
him the money, resolving at the same time to
keep strict watch over him, and that he
should by no means escape. All next day, ac-
cordingly, he kept from time to time coming
out of his shop, and looking up to see whether
the painter was at his work, and always OBJ
served him sitting, or at least what he thought
his legs and feet hanging down from the scaf
fold. At length, however, he became some
what alarmed to observe that the man never
budged from the spot, but hour after hour,
continued in the self-same position; and going
up stairs, he looked from the window of one
of the upper rooms. But far or near, no Hol-
bein was to be seen. He had, in fact, gone
straight 10 the tavern, TO drink away his money
and in order that his employer should never
suspect that he was absent from his work, he
had painted his legs upon the wall. Of course
the merchant Immediately laid hold OF the way
ward artist, and compelled him to finish the
task he had undertaken.
Not long after an English nobleman arrived
at Basle, and having heard of the celebrated
Holbein, engaged him to go to his house dur
ing his absence on journey he was about TO
make into Greece. He promised to pay him
large yearly salary, furnished plenty of
money for his travelling expenses, and gave
him the address at which he was to inquire in
London. Holbein accepted the offer, and
agreed to depart without delay. No sooner
had the no obleman left the town. than he re-
turned to the tavern, where he soon forgot all
about England, and his engagement and his
art. Nor did he stop until he had squandered
the last farthing of the sum which should have
betrayed the expenses of his journey. He
t hen at last recollected the promise he had
made to 60 TO England, and selling the few
articles he possessed, realized enough money
to take him the length of Holland. His funds
were, however, all spent, when he reached
Amsterdam. In this town the great Dutch
painter, Lucas Van Leydeu, was then living.
On him Holbein waited, and inquired if he did
not want person to grind his colors. what
is your name . asked Lucas. Hobein gave
fictitious one. We'll, shall try your skill
Holbein accordingly took his place at the
grindstone, and began grinding away as if he
had never done any thing else in his lifetime.
He soon won the confidence of his master, and
during his absence on a journey which he was
obliged to make, was appointed to take the
oversight of the painting room. Having just
finished 4 large and beautiful portrait of one
of the magistrates, or at least, clef citizens of
Rotterdam, Lucas covered it with a cloth, and
said to his grinder, Take particular care of
this picture; let it receive no injury. make
you responsible for its safety
Holbein promised to pay the strictest atten-
ton to his orders but on the second day after
Lucas's departure, he took a brush and painted
a fly on the councillors face. He then shut
the painting room, embarked in a vessel, and
sailed for London. On Master Lucas's return
home, he was alarmed to hear that his grinder
had decamped, The first thing he thought of,
was the picture, which he hastened to inspect
On raising the cloth, he discovered the fly upon
the face. Taking out his handkerchief, he
attempted to drive it awav, but the fy would
he. move He repeated the attempt, saying,
'Begone, little imp The fly still quietly
kept its place Master Lucas now examined
the creature somewhat more narrowly, and
discovered TO his surprise, that it was painted !;
upon which he dropped the cover and exclaim-
ed, Either the devil or Holbein has been here
at work. He knew that he was the only one
among his cotemporaries capable painting
fly so inimitably as to deceive an able painter
like himself
Holbein arrived safely at London; but he
had lost his lordship's address, and had quite
forgotten even his name. In so great town,
how should he ever discover it, Entering a
coffee house, which he heard was the resort of
numbers of the nobility, he inquired if any of
those present knew the mansion of the lord
who had sent him to London; and in order to
give them some idea of his personal appearance
took coal from the hearth and sketched his
figure on the wall. The instant it was done,
they all exclaimed, 'Oh! it is Lord s.
He was now directed to his lordship's house,
and there labored some time; but ere long he
was promoted to the Office of court painter to
the Hing of England, and in this situation he
died In London in l554.-Gregory Nau.
hydrogen Gas-Light, i'm Earnest.
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