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)

SCHOLARS AND IMITATORS
OF
VAN DYCK.
•-—
The discerning reader will doubtless hesitate to believe, that
the whole of the portraits described in this Catalogue are by the
hand of Van Dyck, especially those which are supposed to have
been done in England. His residence in this country did not
exceed twelve years ; even had he continued here double that
time, it would have barely sufficed, with all his application and
incredible facility, to have executed so many. Possessors of du-
plicate pictures may therefore reasonably suspect that they are,
in most instances, the work of a scholar, or an assistant; and may
esteem themselves fortunate if they were done under the eye of
the master, and retouched by his hand. These observations are
strongly corroborated by the biography of the following painters.
John de Reyn. He was born at Dunkirk, in 1610, and
became a pupil of Van Dyck when that artist resided at Ant-
werp ; and accompanying him to London, continued in his ser-
vice until his master’s decease. Possessed of considerable talents,
aided by long practice, he attained the faculty of imitating the
style and manner of his instructor to such perfection, that the
portraits by De Reyn are constantly attributed to Van Dyck.
He is supposed to have remained in this country until the
breaking out of the Revolution, when he returned to his native
place, where he was employed in painting portraits and deco-
rating churches. He died in 1678.
David Beck (or Beek). A name so little known, that the
Writer confesses he has never seen an authenticated picture by
his hand. He was born at Arnheim, in Holland, in 1621, and
came to England at a very early age, where he was placed