The most interesting of Sidney's portraits is unfortunately lost. He sat for it while in Italy, at the request of his friend, and chose no mean artist to paint it: "As soon as ever I return to Venice, I will have it done, either by Paul Veronese or by Tintoretto, who hold by far the highest place in the art." He decided for Veronese, and sent the picture to Languet, who wrote shortly after: "As long as I enjoyed the sight of you, I made no great account of the portrait you gave me, and scarcely thanked you for so beautiful a present. I was led by regret for you on my return from Frankfort to place it in a frame and fix it in a conspicuous place. When I had done this, it appeared to me so beautiful and so strongly to resemble you that I possess nothing that I value more ... The painter has represented you sad and thoughtful. I should have been better pleased if your face had worn a more cheerful look when you sat for the painting."[173] When Languet died, Sidney described his sentiments for him in a touching poem, inserted in his "Arcadia"; it was sung by the shepherd Philisides, who represents the author himself and whose name is a contraction of the words Philip Sidney: "I sate me downe; for see to goe ne could, And sang unto my sheepe lest stray they should. The song I sang old Lan[g]uet had me taught, Lan[g]uet, the shepeard best swift Ister knew, For clearkly reed, and hating what is naught, For faithfull heart, cleane hands and mouth as true. With his sweet skill my skillesse youth he drew, To have a feeling taste of him that sits Beyond the heaven, farre more beyond our wits ... With old true tales he wont mine cares to fill, How shepeards did of yore, how now they thrive ... He liked me, but pitied lustfull youth: His good strong staffe my slipperie yeares upbore: He still hop'd well because I loved truth."[174]