Poussin, naturally of a peaceful turn of mind, fond of retirement and
the society of a few select literary friends, was disgusted with the
ostentation of the court and the cabals by which he was surrounded; he
secretly sighed for the quiet felicity he had left at Rome, and resolved
to return thither without delay. For this purpose, he solicited and
obtained leave of the king to visit Italy and settle his affairs, and
fetch his wife; but when he had once crossed the Alps, no inducement
could prevail on him to revisit his native country, or even to leave
Rome. During a period of twenty-three years after his return to Rome
from Paris, he lived a quiet, unostentatious life, and executed a great
number of pictures, which decorate the principal cabinets of Europe, and
will ever be regarded as among their most valuable ornaments. He
confined himself mostly to works of the large easel size, which were
eagerly sought after, and usually disposed of as soon as they were
executed. He never made any words about the price of his pictures, but
asked a modest and moderate price, which he always marked upon the back
of his canvas, and which was invariably paid. Many of his works were
sent to Paris, where they were valued next to the productions of
Raffaelle. He was plain and unassuming in his manners, very frugal in
his living, yet so liberal and generous that at his death he left an
estate of only 60,000 livres--about $12,000. Felibien relates an
anecdote which pleasingly illustrates his simple and unostentatious mode
of life. The Cardinal Mancini was accustomed to visit his studio
frequently, and on one occasion, having staid later than usual, Poussin
lighted him to the door, at which the prelate observed, "I pity you,
Monsieur Poussin, that you have not one servant." "And I," replied the
painter, "pity your Excellency much more, that you are obliged to keep
so many."