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Vandael； by a remarkable picture； in
which； though no connoisseur myself； I
could not fail to discern some very strong
peculiarities； particularly in the distribu…
tion of light and shade； as also a certain
oddity in the design itself； which interested
my curiosity。 It represented the interior
of what might be a chamber in some
antique religious buildingthe foreground
was occupied by a female figure； arrayed
in a species of white robe； part of which is
arranged so as to form a veil。 The dress；
however； is not strictly that of any religious
order。 In its hand the figure bears
a lamp； by whose light alone the form and
face are illuminated； the features are
marked by an arch smile； such as pretty
women wear when engaged in successfully
practising some roguish trick； in the
background； and； excepting where the dim red
light of an expiring fire serves to define
the form； totally in the shade； stands the
figure of a man equipped in the old fashion；
with doublet and so forth； in an attitude
of alarm； his hand being placed upon the
hilt of his sword； which he appears to be
in the act of drawing。
'There are some pictures；' said I to my
friend； 'which impress one； I know not
how； with a conviction that they represent
not the mere ideal shapes and combinations
which have floated through the imagination
of the artist； but scenes； faces； and
situations which have actually existed。 When
I look upon that picture； something assures
me that I behold the representation of a
reality。'
Vandael smiled； and； fixing his eyes upon
the painting musingly； he said：
'Your fancy has not deceived you； my
good friend； for that picture is the record；
and I believe a faithful one； of a remarkable
and mysterious occurrence。 It was
painted by Schalken； and contains； in the
face of the female figure； which occupies
the most prominent place in the design； an
accurate portrait of Rose Velderkaust； the
niece of Gerard Douw； the first and； I
believe； the only love of Godfrey Schalken。
My father knew the painter well； and from
Schalken himself he learned the story of
the mysterious drama； one scene of which
the picture has embodied。 This painting；
which is accounted a fine specimen of
Schalken's style； was bequeathed to my
father by the artist's will； and； as you
have observed； is a very striking and
interesting production。'
I had only to request Vandael to tell
the story of the painting in order to be
gratified； and thus it is that I am enabled
to submit to you a faithful recital of what
I heard myself； leaving you to reject or to
allow the evidence upon which the truth
of the tradition depends； with this one
assurance； that Schalken was an honest；
blunt Dutchman； and； I believe； wholly
incapable of committing a flight of
imagination； and further； that Vandael； from
whom I heard the story； appeared firmly
convinced of its truth。
There are few forms upon which the
mantle of mystery and romance could
seem to hang more ungracefully than
upon that of the uncouth and clownish
Schalkenthe Dutch boorthe rude and
dogged； but most cunning worker in oils；
whose pieces delight the initiated of the
present day almost as much as his manners
disgusted the refined of his own； and yet
this man； so rude； so dogged； so slovenly；
I had almost said so savage； in mien and
manner； during his after successes； had
been selected by the capricious goddess； in
his early life； to figure as the hero of a
romance by no means devoid of interest or
of mystery。
Who can tell how meet he may have
been in his young days to play the part of
the lover or of the herowho can say that
in early life he had been the same harsh；
unlicked； and rugged boor that； in his
maturer age； he provedor how far the
neglected rudeness which afterwards
marked his air； and garb； and manners；
may not have been the growth of that
reckless apathy not unfrequently produced
by bitter misfortunes and disappointments
in early life？
These questions can never now be answered。
We must content ourselves； then；
with a plain statement of facts； or what
have been received and transmitted as
such； leaving matters of speculation to
those who like them。
When Schalken studied under the
immortal Gerard Douw； he was a young
man； and in spite of the phlegmatic
constitution and unexcitable manner which he
shared； we believe； with his countrymen；
he was not incapable of deep and vivid
impressions； for it is an established fact that
the young painter looked with considerable
interest upon the beautiful niece of his
wealthy master。
Rose Velderkaust was very young；
having； at the period of which we speak；
not yet attained her seventeenth year； and；
if tradition speaks truth； possessed all the
soft dimpling charms of the fail； light…
haired Flemish maidens。 Schalken had
not studied long in the school of Gerard
Douw； when he felt this interest deepening
into something of a keener and intenser
feeling than was quite consistent with the
tranquillity of his honest Dutch heart；
and at the same time he perceived； or
thought he perceived； flattering symptoms
of a reciprocity of liking； and this was
quite sufficient to determine whatever
indecision he might have heretofore
experienced； and to lead him to devote
exclusively to her every hope and feeling of his
heart。 In short； he was as much in love
as a Dutchman could be。 He was not
long in making his passion known to the
pretty maiden herself； and his declaration
was followed by a corresponding confession
upon her part。
Schalken； however； was a poor man；
and he possessed no counterbalancing
advantages of birth or position to induce
the old man to consent to a union which
must involve his niece and ward in the
strugglings and difficulties of a young and
nearly friendless artist。 He was； therefore；
to wait until time had furnished him with
opportunity； and accident with success； and
then； if his labours were found sufficiently
lucrative； it was to be hoped that his
proposals might at least be listened to by her
jealous guardian。 Months passed away；
and； cheered by the smiles of the little
Rose； Schalken's labours were redoubled；
and with such effect and improvement as
reasonably to promise the realisation of his
hopes； and no contemptible eminence in
his art； before many years should have
elapsed。
The even course of this cheering
prosperity was； however； destined to
experience a sudden and formidable
interruption； and that； too； in a manner so
strange and mysterious as to baffle all
investigation； and throw upon the events
themselves a shadow of almost supernatural horror。
Schalken had one evening remained in
the master's studio considerably longer
than his more volatile companions； who
had gladly availed themselves of the
excuse which the dusk of evening affo