u declares himself in
dismay.

August 1705.

I am just returned from early Mass. I lingered long after the office
was ended, watching, pondering how in the world one could help a small
bird which had flown into the church but could find no way out again.
I suspect it will remain there, fluttering round and round
distractedly, far up under the arched roof, till it dies exhausted. I
seem to have heard of a writer who likened man's life to a bird passing
just once only, on some winter night, from window to window, across a
cheerfully-lighted hall. The bird, taken captive by the ill-luck of a
moment, re-tracing its issueless circle till it [15] expires within the
close vaulting of that great stone church:--human life may be like that
bird too!

Antony Watteau returned to Paris yesterday. Yes!--Certainly, great
heights of achievement would seem to lie before him; access to regions
whither one may find it increasingly hard to follow him even in
imagination, and figure to one's self after what manner his life moves
therein.

January 1709.

Antony Watteau has competed for what is called the Prix de Rome,
desiring greatly to profit by the grand establishment founded at Rome
by King Lewis the Fourteenth, for the encouragement of French artists.
He obtained only the second place, but does not renounce his desire to
make the journey to Italy. Could I save enough by careful economies
for that purpose? It might be conveyed to him in some indirect way
that would not offend.

February 1712.

We read, with much pleasure for all of us, in the Gazette to-day, among
other events of the great world, that Antony Watteau had been elected
to the Academy of Painting under the new title of Peintre des Fetes
Galantes, and had been named also Peintre du Roi. My brother, [16]
Jean-Baptiste, ran to tell the news to old Jean-Philippe and Michelle
Watteau.

A new manner of painting! The old furniture of people's rooms must
needs be changed throughout, it would seem, to accord with this
painting; or rather, the painting is designed exclusively to suit one
particular kind of apartment. A manner of painting greatly prized, as
we understand, by those Parisian judges who have had the best
opportunity of acquainting themselves with whatever is most enjoyable
in the arts:--such is the achievement of the young Watteau! He looks
to receive more orders for his work than he will be able to execute. He
will certainly relish--he, so elegant,