Abstract
During his Roman period (1624-1665), Nicolas Poussin (1594-1665) visited Paris by invitation of Louis III, but didn't stay there more than two years (1640-42). His original style, built up before this visit, can be characterized as the concentrated circle-composition and makes us look at the sceen naturally from the higher place just like in "the Israelites gathering the Manna" (1638) and "the Seven Sacraments (first series)". But when he was in Paris, he was commissioned to make large size pictures by Louis III, for example, "the Institution of the Eucharist" (1641). Those pictures, however, were not so excellent because of the gap between the commission and the capacity of his original style. This experience inspired him to develop his first original style. After returning to Rome, this struggle continued until he synthesized his first style and the experience at Paris. The creation of his new style, which makes us look at the sceen from the lower place can be seen in "the Seven Sacraments (second series)" and "the Holy Family on the steps" (1648).
