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)

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CALONNE COLLECTION.

INTRODUCTION
TO THE
CATALOGUE.

M. De Calonne, the noble Proprietor of this collec-
tion, was, in 1789, building a most magnificent Gallery
at his late House in Piccadilly, when the Revolution
happened in France. He soon after left England, to
join the Princes and several of the French nobility at
Coblentz; to assist whom effectually, he not only raised
the capital of his fortune, sold his town and country
houses, but also mortgaged this valuable Collection.
The Mortgagees last year resolved to sell the same,
and had it removed for that purpose to Spring Gardens;
but scarce one hundred and fifty Pictures were arranged,
when news arrived, that the Empress of Russia would
probably purchase the whole Collection, and the Mort-
gagees thought proper to postpone the Sale, and left
sixteen cases unopened, comprehending the largest part
of the Collection: however, the Connoisseurs and lovers
of the art were permitted to view the one hundred and
fifty Pictures that w'ere hung up, during a short time,
but not a single article was then offered for sale, so that
the whole Collection remains still entire.
That the Public may be assured, that not a single
article (Family Portraits excepted) has either been
added to or taken from the Collection, a Catalogue,
7 o ’