DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.52801#0151
MR. BUCHANAN’S IMPORTATIONS.—italy. 147
berini, but it cannot be had, nor is it a true Leo-
nardo, but a Luini, like most of the others, and
very dark. You will see by what I have before
written, that the acquisition of the Murillos is
very uncertain, being national property. The
purchaser of the Annibal Caracci I had in Scot-
land was Mr. Payne Knight of Whitehall, one of
the most intelligent amateurs. I did not sell it
him immediately myself, but through the inter-
vention of two others before it reached him, the
last of which, I believe, was Cosway, the first
Tresham.
“ I have again talked with the proprietor about
the two Aldobrandini pictures, but he has not yet
settled with his partner. He declines separating
them, as they were painted for companions, and
mentioned together in the life of Titian. That
with the figures by John Bellini was his last
work, and dying before it was finished, the land-
scape was done by Titian, and has always been
greatly admired. These and two others (now in
Spain), were painted for the Duke of Ferrara.
He has promised me the preference, but I have
not been able to make him fix a price, as he means
first to have them cleaned.”
By this letter, which contains much interesting
information, it will be seen, that there was not a
collection of any consequence at that period in
t. 2
berini, but it cannot be had, nor is it a true Leo-
nardo, but a Luini, like most of the others, and
very dark. You will see by what I have before
written, that the acquisition of the Murillos is
very uncertain, being national property. The
purchaser of the Annibal Caracci I had in Scot-
land was Mr. Payne Knight of Whitehall, one of
the most intelligent amateurs. I did not sell it
him immediately myself, but through the inter-
vention of two others before it reached him, the
last of which, I believe, was Cosway, the first
Tresham.
“ I have again talked with the proprietor about
the two Aldobrandini pictures, but he has not yet
settled with his partner. He declines separating
them, as they were painted for companions, and
mentioned together in the life of Titian. That
with the figures by John Bellini was his last
work, and dying before it was finished, the land-
scape was done by Titian, and has always been
greatly admired. These and two others (now in
Spain), were painted for the Duke of Ferrara.
He has promised me the preference, but I have
not been able to make him fix a price, as he means
first to have them cleaned.”
By this letter, which contains much interesting
information, it will be seen, that there was not a
collection of any consequence at that period in
t. 2