The Aravidu Dynasty of Vijayanagara, Vol. I v1.c29.13

v1.c29.13

In spite of the King's wishes, Bro. Alexander, as he is commonly called, was not among the Jesuits who reached Chandragiri in 1599. But in the following year we find him installed at Venkata's court. A Jesuit letter of 1600 gives some interesting information about his work at the imperial palace. It runs as follows: "Bro. Alexander showed to the King one of his paintings that represents the three Magi adoring our Saviour recently born and put in the manger. He offered besides to the sovereign another painting, showing the Blessed Virgin with Her Child in her arms. The King bowed before it and placed it in one of the rooms of his palace. The Brother is now painting another one of Christ's descent into hell. He (the King) is eagerly waiting for it, because out of many pictures previously shown he selected this and the preceding one to be reproduced. He talks quite unreservedly with the Brother. It happened once that the King was looking on while the Brother was painting; the latter happened to say that some of the colours required for his work were some times lacking; then the sovereign returned to his apartment, and came out bringing in his own hands a hundred gold pieces, which he gave to the Brother, in order to get all the necessary things ” ¹.