Ruysch.--The greatest Flower-painter.--Early Instruction.--Spread of her Fame.--Domestic Cares.--Professional Honors.--Invitations to Courts.--Her Patron, the Elector.--Her Works in old Age.--Her Character.--Rarity of her Paintings.--Personal Appearance. 94 CHAPTER IX. THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY. Unfavorable Circumstances for Painting in Germany.--Effects of the Thirty Years’ War.--The national Love of Art shown by the Signs of Life manifested.--Influence of the Reformation.--Inferiority of German Art in this Century.--Ladies of Rank in Literature.--A female Astronomer.--The Fame of Schurmann awakens Emulation.--Distinguished Women.--Commencement of poetic Orders.--Zesen, the Patron of the Sex.--Women who cultivated Art.--Paintresses of Nuremberg.--Barbara Helena Lange.--Flower-painters and Engravers.--Modeling in Wax.--Women Artists in Augsburg.--In Munich.--In Hamburg.--The Princess Hollandina.--Her Paintings.--Maria Sibylla Merian.--Early Fondness for Insects.--Maternal Opposition.--Her Marriage.--Publication of her first Work.--Joins the Labadists.--Returns to the Butterflies.--Curiosity to see American Insects.--Voyage to Surinam.--Story of the Lantern-flies.--Return to Holland.--Her Works published.--Republication in Paris afterward.--Her Daughters.--Her personal Appearance.--The Danish Women Artists.--Anna Crabbe.--King’s Daughters.--The Taste in Art in Denmark and England governed by that of foreign Nations.--Female Artists in England.--The Poetesses most prominent.--Miniaturists.--Portrait-painters.--Etchers.--Lady Connoisseurs.--The Dwarf’s Daughter.--Anna Carlisle.--Mary Beale.--Pupil of Sir Peter Lely.--Character of her Works.--Rumor of Lely’s Attachment to her.--Poems in her Praise.--Mr. Beale’s Note-books.--Anne Killegrew.--Her Portraits of the Royal Family.--History and still-life Pieces.--Her Portrait by Lely.--Her Character.--Dryden’s Ode to her Memory.--Her Poems published.--Mademoiselle Rosée.--The Artist in Silk.--Wonderful Effects.--Her Works Curiosities.--The Artist of the Scissors.--Her singular imitative Powers.--A Copyist of old Paintings.--Her Cuttings.--Views of all kinds done with the Scissors.--Royal and imperial Visitors.--Her Trophy for the Emperor Leopold.--Poems in her Praise.--The Swiss Paintress Anna Wasser.--Her Education and Works.--Commissions from Courts.--Her Father’s Avarice.--Sojourn at a Court.--Return home.--Fatal Accident.--Her literary Accomplishments. 110 CHAPTER X. THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.