Buchanan, William: Memoirs of painting: with a chronological history of the importation of pictures by the great masters into England since the French Revolution (Band 1) (London: Ackermann, 1824)

xiv INTRODUCTION.
and in her strength: they transmitted their
moneyed wealth to her public funds, and
their collections of art to private individuals,
either for protection, or to be disposed of for
their use. The collections of Monsieur de
Calonne, and of the Duke of Orleans, with
many selections of the highest importance
from the palaces of Rome, Florence, Bo-
logna, and Genoa, which had escaped the
plunder of an invading army, were imported
into this country, and roused an emulation
and a taste for the acquisition of works of
Art, which had been almost dormant in
England since the days of its illustrious
patron and protector, Charles the First.
From this period may be dated a new
and a distinct era in the art, with reference
to modern times:—the collections of Great
Britain, heretofore possessing but few ge-
nuine works of the Italian schools, were
now enabled to enrich themselves from