Smith, John: A catalogue raisonné of the works of the most eminent Dutch, Flemish, and French painters: in which is included a short biographical notice of the artists, with a copious description of their principal pictures : a statement of the prices at which such pictures have been sold at public sales on the continent and in England; a reference the the galleries and private collections in which a large portion are at present; and the names of the artists by whom they have been engraved; to which is added, a brief notice of the scholars & imitators of the great masters of the above schools (Part 1) (London: Smith and Son, 1829)

INTRODUCTION.

xvii

vent such results in future, to rescue the respectable
part of the profession from the disgrace of being classed
with fraudulent charlatans, and to prevent, as much as
possible, the loss which the arts must suffer when ama-
teurs cease to purchase, the writer has ventured to point
out some of the most prominent tricks of those who
disgrace the commerce of pictures.
Before closing this unpleasant subject, it may not be
considered altogether inappropriate to glance at a system
of dealing, in which a certain class of pictures is found
to be a most convenient medium, on account of their
indefinite value: the writer alludes to the traffic of bill
discounting, and the purchase of post obits. The
necessitous applicants to these unmerciful and ruinous
accommodaters, are usually compelled to take a third, and
sometimes one-half, the amount of their bonds, or bills,
in pictures, which, of course, are ascribed to the best
masters, and valued accordingly at enormous prices.
By this nefarious practice some have enriched them-
selves, and are now living in affluence. An instance of
this sort of dealing occurred very lately, in which a col-
lection of pictures, valued to the needy gentleman at
£.5000, did not net at auction £.500 !
An Amateur of Paintings usually commences by the
purchase of examples of little value, and, as his taste
improves, he discovers their defects, and changes them
for better, which, in their turn, if his fortune will allow
it, give place to others by the best masters ; ultimately,
the choicest works are sought after and selected to
compose his Cabinet.
The following hints, therefore, on this subject, are
vol. i. b