“You ask, my friend,” she says, in one of her letters, “why Como is ever in my thoughts? It was at Como that, in my most happy youth, I tasted the first real enjoyment of life. I saw stately palaces, beautiful villas, elegant pleasure-boats, a splendid theatre. I thought myself in the midst of the luxuries of fairyland. I saw the urchin, too, young Love, in the act of letting fly an arrow pointed at my breast; but I, a maiden fancy free, avoided the shaft, and it fell harmless. After the lapse of years,” she proceeds, “the genius that presides over my destiny led me again into this delicious region, where I tasted the delights of friendship with the charms of nature, and listened with deeper joy than ever to the murmur of waves on that unrivaled shore. One day I was walking with agreeable company around one of the most beautiful villas near the lake. In the shadow of a wood I again saw the youthful god slumbering. I approached him. He awakened, looked at me, and, recognizing her who had contemned his power, sprang up suddenly, intent on swift revenge. He pursued me, the arrow sped once more, and but by a hair’s breadth failed to reach my heart.” All too quickly, indeed, passed the two years of her first residence in Como; and it was with poignant regret that she left her beloved home, when, in 1754, her father went to settle his family in Milan. Even this dreaded change, however, was a fortunate one; for it seemed to be appointed that Angelica’s youth should glide away like a stream in the sunshine of happiness. A new world of wonders opened to her view in this city, where she saw works of art surpassing in merit those she had yet beheld. She had copied antique models in her drawing, and the engravings of pictures by the early masters which were among her father’s treasures. Here she was first introduced to an acquaintance with works of great beauty and importance in the history of art. Here Leonardo da Vinci had labored, and founded a school in which are still conspicuous the gentle dignity, purity, and elevation that live in his creations. The impressions received from her contemplation of the productions of the most famous of the Lombard masters, and the care with which she studied them till her own style became imbued with their spirit, decisively influenced the professional career of the young artist. The change had a not less favorable effect upon her worldly circumstances. Her copies of some pictures found in the palace of Robert d’Este, Duke of Modena and Governor of Milan, induced him to declare himself her patron, and led to her introduction to the Duchess of Carrara. After she had painted by command the portrait of that princess, she received orders for a number of pictures for other ladies of rank.