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)

58

VAN DYCK.

His Majesty’s Collection.
Engraved by Baron and Lombart. The plate by the latter was
afterwards altered, and the head of Cromwell substituted for that
of His Majesty. The equerry was also obliterated, and the figure
of a youth bearing a helmet introduced, with other considerable
changes.
The liberal munificence of this elegant and highly-accomplished
monarch was alone sufficient to induce the artist to exert his best
skill in portraying his royal patron, whose fine form and expressive
countenance were greatly in favour of the painter; and if any
further incitement to success were wanting, the refined taste of
Charles would have supplied it, for without question he was the
only sovereign who has filled the British throne whose esteem and
admiration of the fine arts prompted him to promote and encourage
them with a princely liberality os which there is no parallel,
excepting in that of His present Majesty George IV., whose magni-
ficent reign will form a splendid epoch in the history of the arts.
Vertue, in his advertisement to the catalogue of the King’s col-
lection, emphatically observes, “ He loved, he understood, he pa-
tronized the fine arts and in another place states, “ that the King,
at one time, presented to Van Dyck and Mrs. Carlisle ultramarine to
the value of 500Z. and in continuation adds, “ that his Majesty,
having an intention to decorate the walls of the Banqueting-house
at Whitehall with pictures illustrating the ceremonies of the Order
of the Garter, is said to have contracted to pay Van Dyck the sum
of 80,000Z. for that work.” There is doubtless a serious error in
this statement, which has been very properly corrected by Brian
and other waiters, who have reduced it to 8000Z.
The above Picture is inserted No. 880, p. 76, in the
collection of Charles I. ; and No. 17, in the Whitehall catalogue ;
and again, No. 28, in the catalogue of the pictures in the Committee
Rooms of Parliament House, and valued at 150^. In the sale of
that monarch’s effects in 1651, it was purchased by Van Lemput, a
Dutch artist, for the sum of 200Z. After the Restoration it was
recovered by process at law, and replaced in the Royal Col-
lection.
Now at Windsor Castle.