ly marvellous. He loved
excitement and adventure, and the works which have these elements were his
best--and he liked best to do them. His color cannot be praised; he had no
lofty intellectual aims; he was clever to a high degree, but he was not
great; he was one to whom the happy medium of praise should be given, for
he neither merits severity of criticism nor immoderate praise; he was
simply a gifted painter and "the greatest and last of the Vernets."

He is also the last French painter of whom we shall speak, as we do not
propose to take up the excellent artists of our own day, who would require
a volume devoted strictly to themselves.

CHAPTER VII.

PAINTING IN ENGLAND.

In early days in England there were miniature-painters, and in the last
half of the sixteenth century there were some very important English
painters of this kind. Before the days of Charles I. the English kings
were much in the habit of inviting foreign artists to England, and
commissions were given to them. The painters who were most prominent in
England were of the Flemish school, and even under Charles I., as we have
seen, Rubens and Vandyck were the principal painters in England. But in
the reign of this king some native artists made names for themselves, and
what we call the English school of painting may really be dated from this
time.

Before speaking of painters I must mention one miniaturist whose works
were in demand in other countries, as well as in England. SAMUEL COOPER
(1609-1672) has been called "the Vandyck in little," and there is far more
breadth in his works than is usual in miniature. He painted likenesses of
many eminent persons, and his works now have an honorable place in many
collections.

WILLIAM DOBSON (1610-1646) has been mentioned in our account of Vandyck as
a painter whom the great master befriended and recommended to Charles I.
He became a good portrait-painter, and after Vandyck's death was appointed
sergeant-painter to the king. His portraits are full of dignity; the face
shadows are dark, and his color excellent. He did not excel in painting
historical subjects. Vandyck was succeeded at court by two foreign artists
who are so closely associated with England that they are always spoken of
as English artists.

[Illustration: FIG. 70.--SIR JOSHUA REYNOLDS.]

PETER VAN DER FAES (1618-1680), who was born in Westphalia, is known to us
as Sir PETER LELY. He became the most celebrated portrait-painter afte