The southern portion of the Netherlands, including the old province of Flanders, remained Catholic and was governed by a Spanish Prince who held his court at Brussels.
When peace came at last, there was a remarkable outburst of painting in each of the two countries.

Rubens was the master painter in Flanders.
Of him and of his pupil Van Dyck we shall hear more in the next chapter.
In Holland there was a yet more wide-spread activity.

Indomitable perseverance had been needed for so small a country to throw off the rule of a great power like Spain.

The long struggle seems to have called into being a kindred spirit manifesting itself in every branch of the national life.

Dutch merchants, Dutch fishermen, and Dutch colonizers made themselves felt as a force throughout the world.