He had a daughter of extraordinary beauty, so lovely, so modest, notwithstanding the homage offered to her charms, that her admirers had surnamed her _la bionda maraviglia_, "the wonderful blonde." One morning in the year 1550 the beautiful Mary Van de Werve was seated in her father's house in a richly sculptured arm-chair.

The young girl had apparently just returned from church, as she still held in her hand a rosary of precious stones, and her hood lay on a chair near her.

She seemed to be engrossed by some pleasing thought which filled her heart with a sweet anticipation, for a slight smile parted her lips, and her eyes were upraised to heaven as if imploring a favor from Almighty God.
Against the wall behind her hung a picture from the pencil of John Van Eyck, in which the great master had represented the Virgin in prayer, whilst she was still ignorant of the sublime destiny that awaited her.
The artist had lavished upon this masterpiece the most ardent inspirations of his pious and poetic genius, for the image seemed to live and think.

It charmed by the beauty of feature, the majestic calm of expression, the sweetness of the smile, the look full of love cast from earth to heaven.
There was a striking resemblance between the creation of the artist and the young girl seated beneath in almost the same attitude.

In truth, the youthful Mary Van de Werve was as beautiful as the poetical representation of her patroness.