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)

MR. GORDON’S COLLECTION. 89
ing a pair of doves, the emblems of innocence. It is
etched by F. Vanden Wyngaerde, and makes No.
63 of the allegories, &c. in Basan’s catalogue of
Rubens’ works, p. 124; he calls it “ Des soldats
faisant tapage.” The figures may be about two
feet high, and the picture about five and a half
long by four and a half high. It is from the
Colonna gallery. The same person has a Marriage
of St. Catharine, by Parmegiano, a duplicate of
the one carried from Bologna by the French,
4000 crowns ; about seven or eight feet high. A.
Poussin—The Plague of the Emrods, as men-
tion in the Bible, larger than the Rubens, 4000
crowns. The Entombing of Christ, by Guercino,
for which he asked formerly T1000 sterling.
These two last are fine pictures, but of subjects
that will not generally please. They are all from
the Colonna palace. The Rubens I think ought to
be worth, in England, 1000 guineas. There was
another in the Orleans collection, but I know not
what it was sold for, nor had I an opportunity of
critically examining it, as it was placed rather high.
This, for execution, is one of the most enchanting
things I ever saw, and in the most perfect pre-
servation. I shall write to Bologna to know
whether any thing very fine can be procured there,
but I have little hopes of success.
“ I remain, &c. &c.”