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)

102

ORLEANS COLLECTION.

can find but little difficulty in pronouncing, to
which of these any particular work does truly
belong. Much confusion has been often created
in the changing of names, sometimes from in-
terested motives, sometimes for the sake of ura-
tifying the caprice of the owner, or the fashion
of the day; for it must be remembered that
there is a fashion in masters, as there is in dress,
or in any thing else; and it may be here re-
marked, that the last work of high importance
which comes before the eye of the public, will in
all probability lead the fashion for the season;
even to the prejudice of others of equal, if not
greater consequence. To-day Salvator Rosa’s
wild and savage landscapes are the rage; to-
morrow he is superseded by the sunny pastorals
of Claude Lorrain :—nothing is talked of at one
time but the grande gusto of the Italian school,
and the perverted taste of admitting the pictures
of Dutch boors into any collection formed with
classical taste ; and yet, a few years again sees
the works of an Ostade, a Teniers, or a Jan
Steen, brought into high favour; and the same
connoisseur who would not formerly look at a
Rembrandt, becoming a purchaser of one of his
ugliest portraits. The fact is, that every thing
in art which is excellent in itself, will remain so,
independent of fashion; and the relative value