CHAPTER XI.

THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.

Angelica Kauffman.--Parentage and Birth.--Beautiful Scenery of her native Land.--Early Impulse to Painting.--Adopts the Style of Mengs.--Her Residence in Como.--Instruction.--Music or Painting?--Beauty of Nature around her.--Angelica’s Letter about Como.--Escape from Cupid.--Removal to Milan.--Introduction to great Works of Art.--Studies of the Lombard Masters.--The Duke of Modena her Patron.--Portrait of the Duchess of Carrara.--Success.--Return to Schwarzenberg.--Painting in Fresco.--Homely Life of the Artist.--Milan and Florence.--Rome.--Acquaintance with Winkelmann.--Angelica paints his Portrait.--Goes to Naples.--Studies in Rome.--In Venice.--Acquaintance with noble English Families.--In London.--A brilliant Career.--Fuseli’s Attachment to her.--Appointed Professor in the Academy of Arts.--Romantic Incident of her Travel in Switzerland.--The weary Travelers.--The libertine Lord.--The Maiden’s Indignation.--Unexpected Meeting in the aristocratic Circles of London.--The Lord’s Suit renewed.--Rejected with Scorn.--His Rank and Title spurned.--Revenge.--The Impostor in Society.--Angelica deceived into Marriage.--She informs the Queen.--Her Father’s Suspicions.--Discovery of the Cheat.--The Wife’s Despair.--The false Marriage annulled.--The Queen’s Sympathy.--Stories of Angelica’s Coquetry.--Marriage with Zucchi.--Return to Italy.--Her Father’s Death.--Residence in Rome.--Circle of literary Celebrities.--Angelica’s Works.--Criticisms.--Opinions of Mengs and Fuseli.--The Portraits in the Pitti Gallery.--Death of Zucchi.--Invasion of Italy.--Angelica’s Melancholy.--Journey and Return.--Her Death and Funeral. 144