DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.52801#0136
132 MR. BUCHANAN’S IMPORTATIONS—italy.
Annibal is evident by his copying it, for the small
one is certainly by him. In the same apartment
is a very fine Vandyke of the Tribute Money,
half-length figures, three or four in number.
These two would be great acquisitions, and we
have spoken to one of the family to make interest
for the sale, but to no purpose.
“ 2d. May.—The answers of the Doge and of
Gentile have both been unfavourable. From the
first I expected nothing better, but I confess I had
some hopes, though those not very sanguine, from
the latter. Things begin to look rather gloomy,
as the principal families are again raising their
heads, and hope to return to their former conse-
quence. Should war recommence they will pro-
bably alter their tone, and in that case great things
indeed may be done. I beg you to keep your at-
tention steadily fixed on this as an object of the
utmost importance. From all accounts ten thou-
sand pounds or less would have purchased, three
years ago, all the good pictures in Genoa. I am
credibly informed that the Guido above-mentioned,
and two Rubens’ of nearly equal value in the
same church, might have been procured for three
or four thousand livres of this country, that is, so
many eightpences !! ! yet, such was the despond-
ency and misery of that time, that no purchaser
Annibal is evident by his copying it, for the small
one is certainly by him. In the same apartment
is a very fine Vandyke of the Tribute Money,
half-length figures, three or four in number.
These two would be great acquisitions, and we
have spoken to one of the family to make interest
for the sale, but to no purpose.
“ 2d. May.—The answers of the Doge and of
Gentile have both been unfavourable. From the
first I expected nothing better, but I confess I had
some hopes, though those not very sanguine, from
the latter. Things begin to look rather gloomy,
as the principal families are again raising their
heads, and hope to return to their former conse-
quence. Should war recommence they will pro-
bably alter their tone, and in that case great things
indeed may be done. I beg you to keep your at-
tention steadily fixed on this as an object of the
utmost importance. From all accounts ten thou-
sand pounds or less would have purchased, three
years ago, all the good pictures in Genoa. I am
credibly informed that the Guido above-mentioned,
and two Rubens’ of nearly equal value in the
same church, might have been procured for three
or four thousand livres of this country, that is, so
many eightpences !! ! yet, such was the despond-
ency and misery of that time, that no purchaser