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)

VAN DYCK.

59

His Majesty's Collection.
A Study for the preceding picture, done in a free masterly man-
ner, is in the collection of the Earl of Egremont.
3 st. by 3ft. 4 in.—C.
A Duplicate of the above picture was presented by Charles I. to
Sir John Byron, of Newstead. This excellent portrait was pur-
chased a few years back at the sale of the late Lord Byron’s pro-
perty, at Newstead, for the trissing sum of 90 gs., and was bought
for Sir John Borlace Warren, Bart. ; now in the possession of Lady
Warren, at Stapleford, Notts.
10J7. 2 in. by 7 ft. 7 in.
A second Duplicate of the preceding picture (improperly ascribed
to Van Dyck), said to have been presented to Earl Waldegrave by
Charles I., is now in the collection of Earl Warwick.
The Writer is indebted for the following information, relative to
this picture, to the friendly kindness of James Northcote, Esq. R. A.
whose retentive memory, at the age of eighty-three, is as remark-
able as his talents are excellent in his profession.
When a young man, he was applied to by the then Earl Wal-
degrave to recommend some one who w’ould buy his collection of
pictures (but it was on no account to be a dealer) ; it instantly oc-
curred to him that no one was more likely to make the purchase than
Sir Joshua Reynolds, to whom he mentioned it the same day. Sir
Joshua seemed pleased with the offer, and begged him to inform his
Lordship that he would wait on him the following Sunday, to view
the collection; and at the time fixed, accompanied by Mr. North-
cote, went in a post-chaise to the country residence of his Lordship.
On entering the room, the attention of Sir Joshua was instantly
riveted on the picture in question, for which he at once offered 500 gs.
and 100 gs. each for several others ; and before quitting the place
he made an offer of 1000 gs. for the choice of seven pictures out of
the whole collection. The opinion os so distinguished a connoisseur
raised the expectation of the proprietor so high that he determined
upon sending the whole to a public sale, which shortly after took
place, when the Van Dyck was knocked down at 65 gs., and bought
by Earl Warwick, and the other pictures sold in proportion.