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. 171

arrived in a choice of pictures, and how fastidious
they have become in their selection “ by what has
been sold of late f yet I will venture to assert
just from what has been sold, as well as from
what has not been sold, that their judgment is
defective, and their taste corrupt. However that
may be, it is my duty to send you such works as
may be deemed saleable, as far as I can judge;
and as selection is now become so essential, you
must of course expect the number to be very
limited, as works of the first class have become
exceedingly rare.”
In December, 1805, Mr. Irvine mentions the
other three pictures by Murillo, from the Capu-
chins of Genoa, having been forwarded to Eng-
land. This purchase, which lias already been
referred to, consisted of
1. The Charity of St. Thomas—by Murillo
—which was afterwards sold to W.
Wells, Esq. of Redleaf in Kent, for
£1000.
2. The Flight into Egypt—its Companion
—which was sold to Mr. Walsh Por-
ter, for £800.
3. The Adoration of the Shepherds—which
was chosen by Mr. Champernowne for
his private collection, and was valued
at F800.
4 Joseph and his Brethren—its compa-