Contrast between the Academicians and Naturalists, and between the French and Spanish Schools of Painting.--Peculiarities of each.--Ladies of Rank in Madrid Pupils of Velasquez.--Instruction of the royal Children in Art.--The Engraver of Madrid.--Every City in the South of Spain boasts a female Artist.--Isabella Coello.--Others in Granada.--In Cordova.--The Sculptress of Seville.--Luisa Roldan; her Carvings in Wood.--The Canons “sold.”--Invitation to Madrid.--Sculptress to the King.--Other Women Artists in Spain.--In France Woman’s Position more prominent than in preceding Age.--Corruption of court Manners.--Unworthy Women in Power.--Women in every Department of Literature.--Mademoiselle de Scudery.--Madame de la Fayette.--Madame Dacier.--Women in theological Pursuits.--Their Ascendency in Art not so great.--Miniature and Flower Painters.--Engravers.--Elizabeth Sophie Chéron.--A Leader in Enamel-painting.--Her Portraits and History-pieces.--Her Merits and Success.--Her Translations of the Psalms.--Musical and Poetical Talents.--Honors lavished on her.--Love and Marriage at three-score.--Her Generosity to the needy.--Verses in her Praise.--Historical Tableaux.--Madelaine Masson.--The Marchioness de Pompadour. 85 CHAPTER VIII. THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY. Two different Systems of Painting in the North.--The Flemish School represented by Rubens.--The Dutch by Rembrandt.--Characteristics of Rubens’ Style.--No female Disciples.--Unsuited to feminine Study.--Some Women Artists of the first Part of the Century.--Features of the Dutch School.--A wide Field for female Energy and Industry.--Painting _de genre_.--Its Peculiarities.--State of Things favorable to female Enterprise.--Early Efforts in Genre-painting.--Few Women among Rembrandt’s immediate Disciples.--Genre-painting becomes adapted to female Talent.--“The Dutch Muses.”--Another Woman Architect.--Dutch Women Painters and Engravers.--Maria Schalken and others.--“The second Schurmann.”--Margaretta Godewyck.--The Painter-poet.--Anna Maria Schurmann.--Wonderful Genius for Languages.--Early Acquirements.--Her Scholarship and Position among the learned.--A Painter, Sculptor, and Engraver.--Called “the Wonder of Creation.”--Royal and princely Visitors.--Journey to Germany.--Embraces the religious Tenets of Labadie.--His Doctrines.--Joins his Band.--Collects his Followers, and leads them into Friesland.--Poverty and Death.--Visit of William Penn to her.--Her Portrait.--Her female Contemporaries in Art.--Flower-painting in the Netherlands.--Its Pioneers.--Maria Van Oosterwyck.--Her Birth and Education.--Early Productions.--Celebrated at foreign Courts.--Presents from imperial Friends.--Enormous Prices for her Pictures.--Royal Purchasers.--The quiet Artist at work.--The Lover’s Visit.--The Lover’s Trial and Failure.--Style of her Painting.--Rachel