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 3) (London: Smith and Son, 1831)

PREFACE.

Is the present volume offer less variety of subjects than
the two preceding, it may be found, by many, more
interesting, as the greater portion is occupied • with
descriptions of portraits of distinguished persons of the
Venetian, Genoese, and Tuscan States ; of the Courts of
Albert and Ferdinand of Belgium ; of Charles I. of
England, and his family, as well as of the nobility and
public characters of Great Britain ; and also of the most
eminent artists and other celebrated persons of the
same period.
Memoranda of the lineaments of those who have
rendered themselves conspicuous by their military
achievements and political conduct, during the reign of
Charles I., and of the literary characters of that age, must
in all succeeding times be interesting, even if presented
by the pencil of a very ordinary painter ; but when such
are conveyed to posterity by the hand of an artist so pre-
eminent as Van Dyck, they acquire a double value, from
the assurance os their being correct likenesses of the
persons, and also as exhibiting fine examples of art.
Those who have not bestowed attention on the nature
of portraiture, may suppose, that numerous instances of
excellent portrait painters might be adduced as proofs