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 2) (London: Ackermann, 1824)

50

ROBIT’S COLLECTION.

works of this master, which are painted in his
most sunny and luminous manner. It was sold
at Robit’s sale for 5220 francs, and is No. 77 of
Bryan’s catalogue.
60. Murillo—painted on canvas—60 inches
by 48.
Two pictures of the first class, and of such per-
fection that they have been generally cited as
among the principal monuments of painting, not
only from the graceful manner in which they are
executed, but from that magical tone of colour-
ing which they so eminently possess.
One of these represents the Good Shep-
herd, the other is St. John. The first of these
is a truly celestial figure, and is standing with his
eyes turned towards heaven, his chin resting on
his right hand, and the other holding a crook,
while two sheep finely designed form most in-
teresting accessories to the subject.
The second picture, equally fine in the execu-
tion, and possessing great force of colouring,
represents St. John standing caressing his
sheep. The beautiful background landscape con-
tributes to relieve the figures in the most happy
manner. These chefs-cToeuvre of Murillo, which
have ever attracted the notice of all amateurs, are
from the Presle collection, where they remained
25 years, previous to which they were in the