All the early painters were Italians, Spaniards, Flemings, or Germans.

Those whom some writers try to represent as our fellow-countrymen are Flemings transplanted to Burgundy, or docile Frenchmen whose imitative work bears an unmistakable Flemish stamp.

Look in the Louvre at our primitive artists; look at Dijon, especially at what remains from the time when northern art was introduced by Philippe le Hardi into his own province.
It is impossible to feel a doubt.

Everything came from Flanders--Jean Perreal, Bourdichon, even Fouquet are whatever you please, only not the inventors of an original Gallic art.
"It is the same with the mystic writers.

Of what use would it be to mention the nationalities to which they belong?
They too are Spanish, Italian, German, Flemish--not one is French." "I beg your pardon, our friend!" cried Madame Bavoil, "there was the Venerable Jeanne de Matel, who was born at Roanne." "Yes, but she was the daughter of an Italian father who was born at Florence," said the Abbe Gevresin, who, hearing the bell ring for Nones, now folded up his table napkin.