The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-12-05

ready become proficient in the rudi-
ments of his profession, and who at 10
was helping his master. the great Ru-
! bens, on his important commissions,
| and at 10 was made full-fedged mem
Der the Guild of st. Luke. the great
society for the encouragement OF the
fine arts in Flanders. Nature is some
times very lavish in bestowing on her
favorites nearly all the gifts she has to
offer, and Van Dyck came in for her
special providing. The troubles that
come to the average painter were
never his. He was born of prosperous
parents and was one of twelve children
OF a successful merchant in silks and
woolenS in Antwerp. He came into the
world on March %. 1899. The worthy
burgher. his father. saw very soon that
he had a remarkable son, and he took
all possible pains TO have him properly
educated. .tHis mother. too, was of a
most artistic temperament and gave
strict attention to the training of the
lad. Unfortunately. however. she died
when he was only 8 years of age, and
thereafter his father had charge of
him. He was sent to the studio of
historical painter at the age of 10, being
then an excellent draughtsman. with
some experience in color. and with this
man. Hendrix van Balen, he remained
for five years.
surpassed all the other students i'm
mediately: when he was between IL and
l6 years of age his work attracted the
attention of Rubens. who was then the
great painter of his epoch. as he re-
mains today one of the greatest of all
time, and he entered his studio. Here
again he took first place. and how he
progressed the following anecdote will
perhaps show: Rubens was in the habit
each day. after his mornings work
was done, of taking q long ride in the
country and while he was away the
key of his studio was intrusted to an
old keeper. The students. DESTROYS of
seeing the masters work in an in
complete state that they might study
his methods. occasionally prevailed
upon the custodian to let them in dur
ing the absence of Rubens. On one
occasion several of them were thus
surresptitiously permitted to enter, and
among the party was young Van Dyck.
Some skylarking ensued, and by acct
dent one OF the students brushed
against newly painted canvas on
which the colors were still wet. TIE
action completely wiped away the
throat and chin of the figure. Every
body was aghaSt, for IL meant that
their escapade would be discovered, to
say nothing of the masters anger when
he should see his work destroyed. In
that as there were still some hours of
daylight left they should endeavor to
repair damages. and he named Van
Dyck as the one to undertake the job.
BY night, Anthony had restored the
canvas to it's original condition, and 50
faithfully had he done his work that
when Rubens returned he remarked
that he had not realized how we'll he
had painted the throat and chin. Later.
however. he discovered the cheat, but
he was so delighted with the Gexterity
of the.young man that he forgave the
rest and paid even greater attention
than ever to his remarkable pupil.
The admission of Van Dyck, before he
was 10. into the Guild of ST. Luke was
unprecedented: he at once branched
out for himself. painting portraits and
taking now and then religious COM
mission One of his pictures about this
time is Christ Bearing the Cross, +"
which may be seen In the Church of the
Dominicans. Again he was called upon
to assist Rubens in some of his deco
rations for church work, and through
his master he met the distinguished
patron of the fine arts. an Englishman,
the Earl OF Arundel. by whom it is sup
posed he was induced soon to make a
trip to London, although he was urged
by his master TO go TO Italy for a course
OF study OF the masters there. The