The life of Greuze is interesting for the curious instance it affords of the inability, which so many eminent men have shown, to know in what direction their best powers lay. Greuze's reputation rested on his _genre_ painting--on his rendering of domestic scenes or faces; but his ambition was to figure as an historical painter. His one picture in this style--"Severus and Caracalla" (in the Louvre)--was painted in 1769 as his diploma work for the French Academy. They praised him for "his former productions, which were excellent," and not for "this one, which was unworthy alike of them and of him," and admitted him as a painter in the class of _genre_ only. Greuze, who was vain and overbearing in the days of his vogue, was greatly incensed and ceased to exhibit at the Academy until after the Revolution. But his power had then begun to fail; the classic school reigned supreme; and Greuze, who had been unhappily married, and whose large earnings were squandered by extravagance and bad management, died in great poverty. He was born in Burgundy, of humble middle-class parents, in the little town of Tournus, where his modest birthplace may still be seen. His happiest productions were taken from the daily life of the middle-classes, and his sweet girl faces are unique in French art (Lady Dilke's article in the _Encyclopædia Britannica_, and Morley's _Diderot_, vol. ii. chap. iii.). Campbell's "Lines on a picture of a girl by Greuze" may be quoted of this picture:-- What wert thou, maid?--thy life--thy name Oblivion hides in mystery; Though from thy face my heart could frame A long romantic history. Transported to thy time I seem, Though dust thy coffin covers-- And hear the songs, in fancy's dream, Of thy devoted lovers. How witching must have been thy breath-- How sweet the living charmer-- Whose every semblance after death Can make the heart grow warmer! 207. THE IDLE SERVANT. _Nicolas Maes_ (Dutch: 1632-1693). _See_ 153. In the background is the family at dinner. The waiting-maid comes to the kitchen to serve the next course--the duckling, perhaps, which a cat is stealing--and finds the cook of Sancho Panza's philosophy: "Blessings on him who invented sleep, ... the food that appeases hunger, the drink that quenches thirst, ... the balance that equals the simple with the wise." Signed and dated 1655. 208. THE FINDING OF MOSES. _Bartholomew Breenbergh_ (Dutch: 1599-1659). Breenbergh, after visiting Italy, established himself in France, where, after the example of Poussin and Claude, he painted "classical landscapes," into which he introduced small figures, supposed to represent scenes from Holy Writ, etc. His work was in great request in France, and several of his pictures are now in the Louvre.