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. BUCHANAN’S IMPORTATIONS.—italy. 129
haps he may again veer about, as this new resolution
seems to proceed from his recent marriage. On
the other hand, I have hopes of doing something
effectual with Pietro Gentile, as the sons have
been spoken to, and they have promised their in-
fluence with their father to induce him to sell.
You will remember that he possesses the Judith
by Guido, and the sketch of St. Ignatius (not St.
Paul) by Rubens, the former of which I lately
found mentioned by Malvasia in his life of Guido,
as also another of Samson killing the Lion in the
same collection. This last you would probably
object to on account of size, subject, and colour.
To-morrow I hope to hear something decisive. I
have been to see three cabinet pictures that I had
seen before and liked, but they were neither to be
sold at that time, nor did they come within your
former instructions as to value. One is a sketch by
Rubens of an allegorical subject, the large picture
of which was in the Pitti palace at Florence, and
must be now at Paris. It represents Cybele, or
the Earth, with other female figures, endeavouring
to stop the progress of Mars. A naked female,
who endeavours to hold the god of war, seems
meant for Venus, or Beauty. It is on paper pasted
on canvas, and though, perhaps, not of his most
brilliant colouring (as his sketches seldom are), yet

VOL. II.

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