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)

130 MR. BUCHANAN’S IMPORTATIONS .-ITALY.
it is very harmonious, and certainly genuine,
though, in point of value or consequence, it can-
not be compared with the St. Ignatius. The
second is the study, by Guido, of a picture at
Rome representing the Trinity in the church of
the Trinita di Pellegrini. It is finely executed,
but perhaps you may object to the subject and
the sombre colour. But where are better to be
got, when Guido, and such as Guido, are in
question ? The third is a St. Jerome, by Benvenuto
Garofalo, which will not do for you on account
both of subject and painter, he not being in your
list. My agent there has been aiming a great
blow, which I am afraid cannot possibly have
effect—nothing less than purchasing from a church
as capital a picture as Guido ever painted,—the
Assumption of the Virgin with all the apostles,
angels, &c.: but it is very large. Still I will
venture and stand my chance if it can be had on
such terms as prudence would dictate. He tells
me he has already offered 40,000 livres, which are
10,000 more than the Doria Rubens. As it be-
longs to the Durazzo family, of which the present
Doge is the head, he is to go to him to-morrow or
next day to try to bring him to the point. I
should be much puzzled to fix a price on such a
picture; it is almost inestimable. Apropos of