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Updated: May 13, 2025
Van der Spijck did not produce great art, yet his pictures are now in demand because he was the kind and loyal friend of Spinoza, and his heart, not his art, fixes his place in history. In his sketch, Zangwill has certain of his old friends, members of the Van den Ende family, hunt out the philosopher in his obscure lodgings and pay him a social visit.
"But fear nothing on my account: I can easily justify myself. There are people enough, and of chief men in the country too, who well know the motives of my journey. But whatever comes of it, so soon as the crowd make the least noise at your door, I will go out and make straight for them, though they should serve me as they have done the unhappy De Witts." Van der Spijck threw open the door.
There, at his own street door, under the trees lining the canal-bank, his landlord, Van der Spijck, the painter usually a phlegmatic figure haloed in pipe-clouds congratulated him excitedly on his safe return, but refused him entry to the house. "Here thou canst lodge no more." "Here I lodge to-night," said Spinoza quietly, "if there be any law in Holland." "Law!
"He was even aware that a letter from the Royal Society of England awaits me." Van der Spijck reddened. "I have not opened it," he cried hastily. "Naturally. But the door thou mayst open." The painter hesitated. "They will drag thee forth, as they dragged the De Witts from the prison." Spinoza smiled sadly. "And on that occasion thou wouldst not let me out; now thou wilt not let me in."
He again moved his lodgings to the suburbs of the city, where he lived with the family of Van der Spijck, a worthy Dutch painter who smoked his pipe in calm indifference to the Higher Criticism. For their quiet and studious lodger Van der Spijck and his wife had a profound regard. They did not understand him, but they believed in him.
He assured Van der Spijck that if any attempt were made on the house he would leave it and face the mob, even if they should deal with him as they did with the unfortunate de Witts. He was a good republican as all knew. And those in high political authority knew the purpose of his journey. Fortunately, popular suspicion and anger dissipated this time without a sacrifice.
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