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)

xxvi

LIFE OF VAN DYCK.

Duke of Norfolk came to speak to His Majesty upon
some matters of finance, when Charles complained to
the duke of the reduced state of his treasury; his
Majesty, supposing the artist had overheard the subject
of their conversation, turned to him, and observed,
“ And you, Chevalier, do you know what it is to want
five or six thousand guineas?” To which Van Dyck
replied, “ May it please your Majesty, an artist who
“ always keeps open table for his friends, and open purse
“ for his mistresses, must frequently experience the
“ emptiness of his coffers.” Finding that the profits of
his profession, although enormous, were insufficient to
meet his extravagance, he was tempted to listen to the
delusions of an empiric, and to waste his time and
money in a fruitless search after the philosopher’s stone,
forgetful of the wise reply of Rubens to a similar
impostor*. His friends saw with concern the weakness
and folly of his conduct; with kind solicitude they
interested themselves in concerting measures to re-
establish his affairs, and reclaim him from habits by
which his health had seriously suffered: to accomplish
this more effectually, a matrimonial alliance was pro-
posed. His friend and patron, the Duke of Buck-
ingham, entered warmly into their plans, and, through
his interest, obtained for him the hand of the beautiful
and accomplished daughter of Lord Ruthven, Count
Gowryf, a Scotch nobleman ; a union which brought
him more honour than wealth, but one of which he was
* Lise of Rubens, Vol. II. os this Work, p. 28.
s Walpole says, “ That the king bestowed on him for a wife the
“ daughter of the unfortunate Lord Gowry.”—Vol. II., p. 168.